Spanish American War

Spanish American War. April 21, 1898 August 13, 1898. This plaque is dedicated to the memory of George Henry Ellis, a navy hero who was born in Peoria, Illinois on October 26, 1875. Chief Yeoman Ellis was serving on board the flagship USS Brooklyn during the blockade of the Spanish squadron docked within the bay of Santiago, Cuba. Early on the morning of July 3, 1898, the Spanish Navy began to break out of the blockade, making for the open sea. The American Naval ships began pursuit and a fierce battle between the two navy squadrons took place. Chief Yeoman Ellis reported to his battle station where he operated the stadimeter which determined the range of the Cruiser Brooklyn's enemy target. His station was out in the open and totally exposed to the enemy's large guns. Ellis faced the enemy ships with a watch in one hand and his stadimeter in the other as he recorded and yelled out the ranges between his ship and the fleeing enemy. He repeated his heroic deeds over and over as the battle raged. As the Brooklyn closed in on the fleeing Spanish Vizcava, and enemy shell struck Chief Yeoman Ellis in the face, decapitating him. Ellis was the only American sailor killed in that battle. , The body of George Ellis was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, on November 28, 1898 with full military honors. At the time of his death, George had an eleven month old son, George Harvey Ellis, who he had never seen. The United States Navy awarded Yeoman Ellis several medals and accommodations and further honored him by naming a battleship after him. The ship designated 154 was named the USS Ellis, later decommissioned in 1942.