John William Heard

Brigadier General, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

Spanish-American War

Brigadier General John William Heard (27 March 1860 - 4 February 1922) was a U.S. Army officer who received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during the Spanish-American War.

John William Heard was born on 27 March 1860 in Woodstock, MS. He was appointed to West Point, graduating with the class of 1883.

Heard's early service includes serving on the Mexican border to suppress border disturbances in 1892 and 1893, and serving in Chicago to suppress labor riots in 1894. In 1898 he was in charge for the construction of quarters at Fort Ethan Alan, VT, before deploying to Cuba for the Spanish-American War.

As a Colonel he served as commander of the 4th Cavalry at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii until his promotion to Brigadier General on 1 October 1918. He then commanded the Hawaiian Department from 1918-1919.

Spanish-American War

Heard was deployed to Cuba as part of the 3rd U.S. Cavalry. He departed Florida with his unit and 40-50 Cuban soldiers, landing near the mouth of the Mani-Mani River near Bahia Hondo, west of Havana. A force of nearly 1,000 Spanish Cavalry charged Heard's vastly outnumbered force as they were unloading supplies on the beach. Heard's command of his men halted the Spanish force's charge and caused them to fall back. Heard successfully regrouped his men and had them re-board their ship, evacuating all of his soldiers and wounded, leaving no one behind. Lieutenant Heard was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 3rd U.S. Cavalry

Place and date: mouth of Manimani River, west of Bahia Honda, Cuba, 23 July 1898

Citation: After 2 men had been shot down by Spaniards while transmitting orders to the engine-room on the Wanderer, the ship having become disabled, this officer took the position held by them and personally transmitted the orders, remaining at his post until the ship was out of danger.

Death and Burial

Brigadier General John William Heard died on 4 February 1922. He is buried at the U.S. Military Academy Post Cemetery in West Point, Orange County, NY, in Section VIII, Row B, Grave 112.