Fitz Lee (Medal of Honor)

Fitz Lee (June 1866 – September 14, 1899) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions at the Battle of Tayacoba in the Spanish–American War.

Lee joined the Army from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in December 1889,[1] and by June 30, 1898, he was serving as a private in Troop M of the 10th Cavalry Regiment.

On that day, American forces aboard the Florida near Trinidad, Cuba, dispatched a landing party to provide reconnaissance on Spanish outposts in the area.

The fifth attempt, by Lee and three other privates of the 10th Cavalry (Dennis Bell, William H. Thompkins and George H. Wanton) under the command of Lieutenant Ahern, was launched at night and successfully found and rescued the surviving members of the landing party.

Private Lee's official Medal of Honor citation reads: After a force had succeeded in landing and had been compelled to withdraw to the boats, leaving a number of killed and wounded ashore, he voluntarily went ashore in the face of the enemy and aided in the rescue of his wounded comrades who would otherwise have fallen into the hands of the enemy, this after several previous attempts had been frustrated.