Spanish American War Sampson Medal named to USMC MOH Recipient USS Brooklyn RARE

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Spanish American War Sampson Medal named to USMC MOH Recipient USS Brooklyn RARE:
$4899.00

Up for offers is this beautiful Sampson Medal named to Pvt. Harry MacNealMOH Recipient. Also included in the sale is his City of Brooklyn medal (without ribbon and name bar) awarded by the City of Brooklyn, New York to marines and sailors aboard the USS Brooklyn during the Spanish American War.
The Sampson Medal is in great shape for its age with some slight wear to the ribbon. The ribbon is totally sound and not in danger of falling apart, but some of the blue threat is wearing through to expose the red thread beneath. The latch hook is also bent making it difficult to unhook the pin. It could be corrected with some slight pressure, but I\'ll leave that up to the next buyer. The ribbon and name bar for the City of Brooklyn medal is missing and not included in the sale.
This is a beautiful grouping and a real piece of history. Only 15 Marines were awarded the Medal of Honor during the War with Spain (compared to 31 Army and 66 Navy Men). Harry MacNeal was the only man to receive a Medal of Honor during the famous Naval battle in Santiago Harbor on July 3 making him the LAST Marine to earn this award during the Spanish American War.
This could very well be your only chance to own a Sampson Medal named to a MOH recipient, let alone a USMC MOH recipient (there were far fewer Marines than Navy and Army men in general). Don\'t let this rare piece slip through your fingers!
The General Order detailing Private MacNeal\'s feats during battle is a true testament to his valor in action that day (read below):General Order 526, dated August 9, 1899, reads:
The Department publishes for the information of the service the following correspondence in regard to the conduct of Private (now Corporal) Harry MacNeal, U.S.M.C., of the U.S.S. Brooklyn:
[Extract from the report of Captain Paul St. C. Murphy, U.S.M.C.]
During the early part of the action a cartridge jammed in the bore of the starboard forward 6-pounder, and in the effort to withdraw it the case became detached from the projectile, leaving the latter fast in the bore and impossible to extract from the rear. Corporal Robert Gray, of the part gun, asked and received permission to attempt to drive the shell out by means of the rammer. To do this it was necessary to go out on the gun, and the undertaking was full of difficulties and danger, the latter due in a great measure to the blast of the turret guns firing overhead. The gun was hot, and it was necessary to cling to the jacob ladder with one hand while endeavoring with the other to manipulate the long rammer. After a brave effort he was forced to give up, and was ordered in. Quarter Gunner W.H. Smith then came, sent by the executive officer, and promptly placed himself in the dangerous position outside the gun port, where he worked and failed as they corporal had done. Neither had been able to get the rammer into the bore, and there seemed nothing left to do but dismount the gun. At this juncture Private MacNeal, one of the crew, volunteered to go out and make the final effort. The gun was so important, the starboard battery being engaged, that as a forlorn hope he was permitted to make the attempt. He pushed out boldly and set to work. The guns on the forward turret were firing, the blast nearly knocking him overboard, and the enemy\'s shots were coming with frequency into his immediate neighborhood. It was at this time that Chief Yeoman Ellis was killed on the other side of the deck. MacNeal never paused in his work. The rammer was finally placed in the bore and the shell ejected. The gun was immediately put in action and MacNeal resumed his duties as coolly as if what he had done were a matter of everyday routine.