Benjamin F. Baker was a United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

.

Biography

Benjamin F. Baker was born on March 12, 1862 at Dennis Port, Massachusetts. He served in the Spanish-American War

Spanish-American War

The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...

 on board . On May 11, 1898, while serving as a Coxswain, he was one of several men who took part in a boat expedition that cut the underwater telegraph cable off Cienfuegos

Cienfuegos

Cienfuegos is a city on the southern coast of Cuba, capital of Cienfuegos Province. It is located about from Havana, and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur...

, Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

. For his "extraordinary bravery and coolness" under enemy fire during this operation, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He reportedly later attained the rank of Chief Master-at-Arms. Benjamin F. Baker died on May 19, 1927 at Dennis Port, Massachusetts and was buried at Swan Lake Cemetery in the same city.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Born: March 12, 1862, Dennisport, Mass. G.O. No.: 521, July 7, 1899.

Citation:

On board the U.S.S. Nashville during the cutting of the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, May 11, 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Baker set an example of extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Spanish–American War