Samuel S. Triplett 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 the United States military's highest 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...

—for his actions 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...

.

Biography

Triplett entered the Navy from the state of New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 and, during the Spanish-American War, served as an Ordinary Seaman

Ordinary Seaman (occupation)

An ordinary seaman is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The position is an apprenticeship to become an able seaman, and has been for centuries...

 on the . On July 26, and July 27, 1898, he took part in a demining

Demining

Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area, while minesweeping describes the act of detecting of mines. There are two distinct types of mine detection and removal: military and humanitarian.Minesweepers use many tools in order to accomplish...

 operation in Guantanamo Bay

Guantánamo Bay (Cuba)

Guantánamo Bay is a bay located in Guantánamo Province at the southeastern end of Cuba . It is the largest harbor on the south side of the island and is surrounded by steep hills creating an enclave cut off from its immediate hinterland....

, 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...

. He was awarded the Medal of Honor five months later, on December 14, 1898, for his actions during the operation.

Triplett reached the rank of Chief Boatswain's Mate

Boatswain's Mate (US Navy)

The United States Navy occupational rating of boatswain's mate is a designation given by the Bureau of Naval Personnel to enlisted members who are rated or "striking" for the rating as a deck seaman. The colloquial form of address for a boatswain's mate is 'Boats'...

 before leaving the Navy. He died at age 87 and was buried in North Edna Cemetery, Edna, Kansas

Edna, Kansas

Edna is a city in Labette County, Kansas, United States. The population was 423 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Edna is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....

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Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: December 18, 1869, Chenokeeke, Kans. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 500, December 14, 1898.

Citation:

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

See also

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