From Spanish-American War to the World War in France – The story about the Swedish Medal of Honor recipient Gustaf Adolf Sundquist

Eva Sofia Kullgren probably knew who the father of her son was, but it is not mentioned in the Swedish church books. Her son, Gustaf Adolf, is noted as illigitimate in the book of birth.

Gustaf Adolf was born in Irsta parish in Västmanland county, Sweden, on June 4th, 1879.

His mother, Eva Sofia Kullgren, was at the time married to Anders Gustaf Sundquist, and Gustaf was raised in the family together with 8 siblings.

Gustaf Adolf emigrated to North America in 1891, and the year is confirmed in the American documents of naturalization. In the Swedish church books he is mentioned as absent, and in the book from 1921 it is written a note with a pencil that Gustaf probably was in America and probably have died in the War on the American side.

Gustaf Adolf must have been around 11 years old when he emigrated and I assume he must have emigrated together with someone, but I haven’t been able to find any immigration documents in the Ellis Islands American Archives. Although it is mentioned in the documents of naturalization from 1904 that he arrived New York on January 1st, 1891.

Medal of Honor

Gustaf Adolf Sundquist enlisted in the U. S. Navy July 30th, 1897, at an age of 18, and served in the Navy during the American War with Spain as an Ordinary Seaman on board the USS Nashville. He was awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor for his bravery during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, on May 11, 1898.

The Spanish-American War was a brief conflict between the United States and Spain that ended Spain’s colonial presence in America and established the U.S. as a major world power.

His citation for the medal reads: “Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Sundquist displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action“. His Medal was awarded to him on November 1, 1899, at an age of 20.

Gustaf 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 4th of 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.

→ Read the entire article on the Swedes on the Western Front website here:

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