Gustaf Adolf Sundquist
(1879-1918)
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Gustaf Adolf Sundquist
Location of Plaque 2015
Purple Heart Medal
Seaman Gustaf Adolf Sundquist
Gustaf Adolf Sundquist
*Surname misspelled on plaque
*Served in both the Spanish-American War and World War I
*Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in the Spanish-American War
Birth: 6/4/1879, Irsta, Sweden
Address: 2321 W. 38th St., Cleveland, Ohio
Demographics: Gustaf Sundquist immigrated to the U.S. in 1895 or 1897; wife Matilda E. immigrated 1903; both born Sweden; lived in Queens, New York with 2 daughters and a son; a 4th child, daughter Martha Washington Sundquist, born 1915, died of heart and lung issues at 11 days of age and was buried in New York; son Robert G. born Ohio; family moved to Cleveland about 1915; Gustaf worked as a Housesmith Ironworker in NY [working on buildings] and Ironworker in Cleveland; naturalized citizen
Draft Date/Enlistment Date/Rank: After serving in Spanish-American War, he reenlisted in the military for World War I in US Naval Reserve on 5/4/1918; served as Chief Special Mechanic, Lafayette High Power Radio Station, Croix d'Hins, France.
Service Number: 116-92-46
Deployment: information not located
Action: [See biographical information below.] Ordinary Seaman US Navy Spanish American War; Chief Special Mechanic WWI, Lafayette High Power Radio Station, Croix d'Hins, France
Death: Declared Dead August 25, 1918; cause of death Accidental Drowning at Arcachon, France, Missing in Action or Buried at Sea; body never recovered
Awards: [See biographical information below.] A total of 112 Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded during the Spanish-American War, including 66 for the Navy, one of which went to Gustaf Adolf Sundquist, Rank Ordinary Seaman. For WWI service, he received the Purple Heart and his name was inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at Brookwood American Cemetery, Brookwood, England
Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia; Section MK Site 192; Memorial Stone 2/10/2010
Next of Kin: Matilda E. Pearson Sundquist, wife, 2321 W. 38th St., Cleveland, OH; on WWI Burial Card under name of widow, it states, "Mother Foreign" and "Sailed May 27, 1931 - President Roosevelt." (This may be a reference to a Gold Star Mothers' and Widows' Pilgrimage.)
Additional Information: No information on parents. Son Arthur Sundquist died at home in 1926 at age 15-16; the 1928 Cleveland City Directory showed widow Matilda Pearson living at 10817 Dale Ave., Cleveland, OH with daughter Lillian, a stenographer, and daughter Svea, a nurse; widow Matilda Pearson died in 1968 at age 87 and was buried at West Park Cemetery, 3942 Ridge Rd., Cleveland, OH; daughter Svea Sundquist Franz died 1976; daughter Lillian married Charles P. Williams; son Robert G. may have died 1975 in San Diego
SUNDQUIST, GUSTAF ADOLF (4 June 1879-25 August 1918), recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during the SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, was one of nine children born to Anders Gustaf and Eva Sofia (Kullgren) Sundquist in Irsta, Sweden. Gustaf Adolf arrived in New York about 1895 and enlisted in the U. S. Navy 30 July 1897. On board the USS Nashville in the Caribbean, Seaman Sundquist participated in the attempt 11 May 1898 to cut the underwater telegraph cables, linking Cuba with Spain, which were located off shore near the Cuban city of Cienfuegos. Under fire from Spanish riflemen, the party was able to cut only two of the three telegraph lines and had to return to their ships. On 2 Nov. 1899 the Medal of Honor for bravery and coolness under fire was authorized for Sundquist and the other members of the cable-cutting party.
SUNDQUIST, GUSTAF ADOLF (4 June 1879-25 August 1918), recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during the SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, was one of nine children born to Anders Gustaf and Eva Sofia (Kullgren) Sundquist in Irsta, Sweden. Gustaf Adolf arrived in New York about 1895 and enlisted in the U. S. Navy 30 July 1897. On board the USS Nashville in the Caribbean, Seaman Sundquist participated in the attempt 11 May 1898 to cut the underwater telegraph cables, linking Cuba with Spain, which were located off shore near the Cuban city of Cienfuegos. Under fire from Spanish riflemen, the party was able to cut only two of the three telegraph lines and had to return to their ships. On 2 Nov. 1899 the Medal of Honor for bravery and coolness under fire was authorized for Sundquist and the other members of the cable-cutting party.
Sundquist was discharged from the Navy 26 Sept. 1900. In 1905 he married Matilda E. Pearson in Brooklyn, N.Y. and the couple had five children. They came to Cleveland about 1915 where he was employed as a structural ironworker until 4 May 1918 when he reenlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve to serve in WORLD WAR I. Assigned to Ft. Lafayette Naval Air Station at Crois D'Hins, France. Sundquist accidentally drowned 25 August while swimming off shore. His body was never recovered.
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