William H. Morin

Sweeping and disabling contact mines in Guantanamo Bay

William Henry Morin earned the Medal of Honor for dangerous mine-clearing work in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. A boatswain’s mate second class aboard USS Marblehead, he took part in sweeping for and disabling 27 contact mines on July 26 and 27, 1898, in the approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay.

His citation recognizes the heroism involved in handling the mines and clearing the naval approaches. Morin later attained the rank of boatswain.

Born in Birmingham, England, on May 23, 1868, he died on Staten Island, New York, on August 29, 1935. He was buried at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, New York.

Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Marblehead at the approaches to Caimanera, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 26 and 27 July 1898. Displaying heroism, Morin took part in the perilous work of sweeping for and disabling 27 contact mines during this period.