Alonzo Cushing was born in Delafield, Wisconsin, and raised in Fredonia, New York. he is buried at his alma mater, the USMA at West Point after being killed at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863, at age 22.
At the battle, he commanded 110 men and a battery of six cannons on Cemetery Ridge until he was hit by a bullet in the head. He had earlier been wounded as well and was down to just two cannons and was out of long-range ammunition at the time of his death. He should have withdrawn.
More than 1500 Medals of Honor were awarded during the Civil War, the first war of its existence. The last Civil War medal of Honor to be awarded before this was one to Corporal Andrew Jackson Smith of Clinton, Illinois, which was awarded in 2001 by President Clinton.
The Cushing name is prominent in Delafield in southeast Wisconsin where there is a monument to him and his two brothers, Cmdr. William Cushing, USN and Ar,y 1st Lt. Howard Cushing. This monument is in Cushing Memorial Park where the town celebrates Memorial Day.
The two other Vietnam veterans receiving Medals of Honor were Donald Sloat who was KIA on Jan. 17, 1970 Bennie Adkins earned his in 1966.
Now, It Is Time to Consider a Medal of Honor for Alonzo's brother William, Whose Exploits Along the Coast Surely Deserve One As Well. --Old Secesh
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