Allegiance United States Place of burial Milton Cemetery Years of service c. 1889–1890 Awards Medal of Honor | Rank Sergeant Name Paul Weinert | |
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Born May 28, 1869
Frankfurt, Germany ( 1869-05-28 ) Battles/wars Indian Wars
Wounded Knee Massacre Died January 19, 1919, Milton, Massachusetts, United States Battles and wars American Indian Wars, Wounded Knee Massacre | ||
Service/branch United States Army | ||
Sergeant Paul H. Weinert (July 15, 1869 – January 19, 1919) was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 1st U.S. Artillery during the Indian Wars. He was one of twenty men who received the Medal of Honor for gallantry at what was then called the Battle of Wounded Knee, but now commonly called the Wounded Knee Massacre, taking charge of the battery when his commanding officer was severely wounded, on December 29, 1890.
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Biography
Paul H. Weinert was born in Frankfurt, Germany on July 15, 1869. He later emigrated to the United States and enlisted as a private in the United States Army in Baltimore, Maryland. Entering the Field Artillery Branch, he was assigned to Battery E of the 1st U.S. Artillery and became a Corporal by age 20.
Weinert was present at the Wounded Knee Massacre when, on the morning of December 29, 1890, members of the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment surrounded the camp of the Sioux chieftain Big Foot to bring him into custody. His unit, consisting of four Hotchkiss guns, moved in after the fighting started and began giving artillery support to the cavalry troops. When his commanding officer, Lieutenant Harry Hawthorne, was severely wounded he assumed command and, with another soldier, directed artillery fire and successfully cleared out a key position, a ravine "pocket", occupied by a number of the Sioux warriors. He and the second cannoneer remained under heavy fire during the battle, at one point causing a round to be knocked out of Weinert's hands as he was about to load, resulting in the gun carriage being riddled with bullets. The two continued manually moving the cannon with each discharge to move it into a better position until the end of the battle. For his actions, he received the Medal of Honor along with four other artillerymen.
Weinert died in Milton, Massachusetts on January 19, 1919 at the age of 49. He is one of two MOH recipients, along with Edward A. Gisburne, interred at Milton Cemetery.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company E, 1st U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Wounded Knee Creek, S. Dak., 29 December 1890. Entered service at: Baltimore, Md. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 24 March 1891.
Citation:
Taking the place of his commanding officer who had fallen severely wounded, he gallantly served his piece, after each fire advancing it to a better position.