MARINE OF THE WEEK Sergeant Major John Henry Quick United States Marine Corps
PAGE 2• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE
John Henry Quick was born in Charlestown, West Virginia on June 20, 1870. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on August 10, 1892 and was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Philadelphia Navy Yard, League Island, Pennsylvania. From his first enlistment to his final retirement on September 15, 1920 he served continuously with Marine Corps’ shipboard detachments and barracks ashore and overseas (through peace and war times). Sergeant John Henry Quick was assigned as signalman to the First Marine Battalion (Reinforced), Company C, Captain George Frank Elliott, commanding, from Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia, on April 19, 1898. He and Private John Fitzgerald, Signalman, Company C, were both awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (in addition, Sergeant Quick also won the Navy Cross) for their actions, at what is today known as the Battle of Cuzco Well. The battle on the southeast coast of Cuba near Guantanamo Bay unfolded during the morning of Tuesday, June 14, 1898. Sergeant Quick was later promoted to 1st Sergeant, Company E, at Camp McCalla, Playa del Este, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on August 1, 1898. He was on duty with the battalion from April 19 through the morning of September 23, 1898 when the battalion was disbanded at the Marine Barracks, New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
Congressional Medal of Honor The fight at the Battle of Cuzco Well began at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 14, 1898, from the ridget of a high hill which was in the shape of a horseshoe. Two thirds of the ridge encircled Cuzco Valley and the well...a distance of about 800 yards...and half of the ridge came under the control of the Marines and Cuban rebels. It was on the crest of the hill where signalmen Sergeant Quick and Private Fitzgerald, both of Company C, performed actions for which each would be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. In short, in midst of the battle, the force commander, Captain George F. Elliott called for a signalman (Private John Fitzgerald) to communicate with the U.S. Gunboat DOLPHIN in order to direct its fire on the enemy in position around a house, the well, and thicket at Cuzco Valley. Private Fitzgerald sent the required wig-wag signal while fully exposed to enemy rifle fire at the crest of the hill. When an additional platoon of Company B, under the command of 2nd Lieutenant Lewis J. Magill, came up on the left flank the DOLPHIN was so far to the front, having mistaken the valley intended, that her fire was in Lieutenant Magill’s direction, driving him to the reverse side of the ridge. Captain Elliott called again for a signalman and Sergeant Quick volunteered to signal the DOLPHIN to cease fire. Like Fitzgerald he was fully exposed to the Spanish fire on the ridge, but accomplished his task. During the battle Sergeant Quick would perform his courageous signaling feats a total of three times and was never touched by Spanish bullets! The battle drew to a close at 3:00 p.m. shortly after which Lieutenant Lewis Clarke Lucas of Company C along with forty Marines, left the crest of the hill and destroyed the well and burned the house. Sergeant John Henry Quick was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor as well as the Navy Cross on the 13th of December 1898. VOL. 70 • NO.40
COMMANDING OFFICER EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMMAND MASTER CHIEF
Guantanamo Bay Gazette
CAPT. JOHN NETTLETON CMDR. COLIN CASWELL CMDCM (SW/EXW/AW) ROSS CRAMER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER GAZETTE EDITOR PHOTOJOURNALIST
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA
KELLY WIRFEL MCC(SW/AW) KEITH BRYSKA MCSN JASON BAWGUS
The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is an authorized publication for members of the military services and their families stationed at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Navy, and do not imply endorsement thereof. The editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is printed by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Document Services with a circulation of 1,000.