A solemn ceremony took place at Iowa Flats Cemetery in Chugwater, Wyoming, to honor Private James McIntyre, a United States hero who was awarded the Medal of Honor 119 years after it was approved.
McIntyre’s Story
McIntyre served in the First North Dakota Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish American War and was involved in intense battles in the Philippines. He was recommended for the Medal of Honor by General Henry S. Lawton for his actions in the Battle of San Miguel and the Battle at Tarbon Bridge.
Despite being approved for the Medal of Honor by President Theodore Roosevelt, McIntyre never received it due to an outdated address. He passed away in 1930, and it wasn’t until recently that his family was notified of the award.
A Long-Awaited Honor
Michael Eberhardt, a retired attorney and Marine, worked with McIntyre’s family to get the Medal of Honor awarded. The medal was finally issued by the Department of Defense on January 16, 2025, and was presented to McIntyre’s granddaughter, Inez Lawson.
Lawson said, ‘It was like he came alive. He wasn’t just a name.’ A Medal of Honor ‘In Memory Of’ headstone is now present next to McIntyre’s wife’s grave in Platte County’s Iowa Flats Cemetery.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
