Some Marines are remembered for one act of courage. Sergeant Major John H. Quick is remembered for a whole career of them. He earned the Medal of Honor in Cuba in 1898 by standing up on an exposed ridge to signal a Navy ship while under enemy fire. Twenty years later, in France during World War I, he volunteered to drive a truckload of ammunition down a road raked by artillery and machine guns, earning both the Navy Cross and the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross. In between, he served in the Philippines and Mexico. His career is a picture of the enlisted Marine at his best: steady, reliable, and willing to do the dangerous job when it needs doing.
Quick Facts
- Name: John Henry Quick
- Born: June 20, 1870, in Charles Town, West Virginia
- Enlisted: August 10, 1892, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Medal of Honor: As a sergeant, for signaling the USS Dolphin under fire at Cuzco Well, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on June 14, 1898
- Unit in 1898: 1st Marine Battalion (often called Huntington’s Battalion)
- World War I awards: Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross for action at Bouresches, France, on June 6, 1918, during the Battle of Belleau Wood
- Highest rank: Sergeant Major
- Died: September 9, 1922, in St. Louis, Missouri
Early Life and Enlistment
John Quick was born in Charles Town, West Virginia, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in Philadelphia in 1892. Within six years he was a sergeant, and the Spanish-American War would give him his first test in combat.
Cuzco Well, 1898: The Medal of Honor
In June 1898, a battalion of Marines landed at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to secure the bay as a base for the U.S. Navy. Spanish troops near a place called Cuzco Well kept harassing the Marine camp, so on June 14 a force of Marines under Captain George F. Elliott moved out to destroy the well, which was the enemy’s main water source in the area.
The Marines took up positions on a ridge overlooking the valley, and the gunboat USS Dolphin was offshore to provide fire support. But the Dolphin’s shells began landing near a platoon of Marines in the valley below, forcing them back. Someone had to tell the ship to stop.
Sergeant Quick volunteered. Signaling in those days meant standing in the open and waving a flag in a coded pattern so the ship could read it. That made the signaler an easy target. Quick stood on the ridge, fully exposed to Spanish rifle fire, and calmly sent his message. He did this on three separate occasions during the fight and was never hit. For this he received the Medal of Honor.
Years of Service Around the World
Quick’s service did not slow down after Cuba. During the Philippine-American War he took part in the hard campaign on the island of Samar. In 1905 he was promoted to sergeant major, the rank he held for the rest of his career. In 1914 he served with Marines at Veracruz, Mexico, where he was commended for his coolness and judgment under fire.
Belleau Wood, 1918: The Truck to Bouresches
When the United States entered World War I, Quick went to France as a battalion sergeant major with the 6th Marine Regiment. In June 1918, the Marines fought one of their most famous battles at Belleau Wood. On June 6, Marines captured the nearby village of Bouresches, but they badly needed ammunition and supplies to hold it.
Quick volunteered to help bring a truckload of ammunition and materials into the village. The only road in was swept by enemy artillery and machine-gun fire. He and his fellow volunteers made it through and delivered the load. For this, he received the Navy Cross from the Navy and the Distinguished Service Cross from the Army, along with a Silver Star citation. He went on to serve in further campaigns in France before retiring after the war.
How He Is Remembered
John Quick died in St. Louis in 1922 at the age of 52. During World War II, the Navy named a destroyer, the USS Quick, in his honor, and a road at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia also carries his name. Among enlisted Marines, he remains a model of what a senior noncommissioned officer can be.
What His Story Means for Marine Families
During boot camp, recruits learn about Marines from every era of the Corps’ history. Quick’s story is especially meaningful because he was an enlisted Marine who spent his entire career in the ranks. Most young people who join the Marine Corps start exactly where he did, as a private learning the basics.
His career also shows the value of experience. The calm sergeant on the ridge in Cuba became the seasoned sergeant major who knew what had to be done at Bouresches. The Marine Corps depends on that kind of steady, experienced enlisted leadership, and many of the drill instructors and noncommissioned officers who train your recruit are carrying on the same tradition.
For parents, Quick’s life is a reminder that a Marine’s service is often a long story, not a single moment. The habits your recruit builds now, like discipline, composure, and willingness to step up, are the same ones that carried Quick through 26 years of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did John H. Quick receive the Medal of Honor?
As a sergeant at Cuzco Well near Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on June 14, 1898, he stood exposed to enemy fire to signal the USS Dolphin, whose shells were landing near fellow Marines. He did this three separate times during the battle.
What awards did he receive in World War I?
For helping deliver a truckload of ammunition to Marines at Bouresches, France, on June 6, 1918, during the Battle of Belleau Wood, he received the Navy Cross and the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross, along with a Silver Star citation.
Was John Quick an officer?
No. He was an enlisted Marine for his entire career. He was promoted to sergeant major in 1905 and held that rank until he retired.
Is anything named after John Quick?
Yes. The Navy destroyer USS Quick, which served in World War II, was named for him, and John Quick Road at Marine Corps Base Quantico honors him as well.