Ira Clinton Welborn
Colonel, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Spanish-American War

Colonel Ira Clinton Welborn (13 February 1874 - 13 July 1956) 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.

Ira Clinton Welborn was born in Mico, MS. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy as a member of the class of 1898. Just a few weeks after his graduation from the Academy, he was assigned as a Second Lieutenant to the 9th Infantry Regiment, to serve in the Spanish-American War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of San Juan Hill.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 9th U.S. Infantry

Place and date: Santiago, Cuba, 2 July 1898

Citation: Voluntarily left shelter and went, under fire, to the aid of a private of his company who was wounded.

Later Years

Welborn served in three other conflicts: the Philippine-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, and World War I, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel. He served as a Tactical Officer at West Point, 1904 -1906. After the tank was introduced to the battlefield in World War I, Ira Welborn was detailed to be the first head of the fledgling U.S. Army Tank Service, for which he received the Distinguished Service Medal. He retired from service in 1932.

His son, John C. Welborn, also attended West Point, rose to the rank of Colonel, and commanded the U.S. Army's 33rd Armored Regiment during World War II. [See Honoree Record ID 317649]

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Medal

Death and Burial

Colonel Ira Clinton Welborn died in Gulfport, MS, on 13 July 1956. He is buried at Biloxi National Cemetery in Biloxi, Harrison County, MS, in Plot 12-4-12.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7025006/ira-clinton-welborn