John Fitzgerald (Medal of Honor)

Gallantry in the fighting at Cuzco

John Fitzgerald was born on March 17, 1873, in Limerick, Ireland. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a private during the Spanish-American War.

On June 14, 1898, at Cuzco, Cuba, Fitzgerald distinguished himself in action. His Medal of Honor citation recognizes heroism and gallantry but does not describe a specific maneuver, rescue, or wound. The official recipient record therefore supports recognition of his courage without supplying a detailed individual combat account.

Fitzgerald later reached the rank of gunnery sergeant. He died in Brooklyn, New York, on April 19, 1948, and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery there. His Medal of Honor preserves the record of a Marine's conduct in the Cuban campaign, while his early life and the chronology of his later service remain sparsely documented in the cited record.

Official Medal of Honor citation: For heroism and gallantry in action at Cuzco, Cuba, 14 June 1898.