Ira W. Cox

Ira Wayne Cox

Company D 22nd Infantry

DOW 08/12/1899

Ira W. Cox was born in Webster County, Kentucky, on August 22, 1879.

He enlisted for a period of 3 years as a Private in Company D of the 22nd Infantry on December 19, 1898
at Evansville, Indiana. His enlistment record indicated that he stood 5 feet 7 ¾ inches tall, had dark brown hair,
brown eyes and a ruddy complexion. His previous occupation was listed as Farmer.

Private Cox was wounded in action against Filipino insurgents, at San Luis on the Island of Luzon,
during the San Isidro campaign, on August 12, 1899. He was wounded in the engagement at 4:30 p.m.
and died from his wounds at 11:30 p.m.

Above: The casualty report of the 22nd Infantry for August 12, 1899.

In entry number 1 is Private Ira Cox indicating he received a gunshot wound in left shoulder and died at 11:30 P.M. on August 12, 1899.

In entry number 2 is Private James H. O'Connell also of Company D who received a gunshot wound in left leg in the same engagement.

The entry for Ira W. Cox in the Return of the 22nd Infantry for the month of August 1899 indicating that he
died of wounds received in action.

Above: The listing of the death and original burial of Ira Cox, from the report written January 3, 1901,
by 1st Lieutenant Isaac Newell, as Commanding Officer Company D 22nd Infantry. Newell indicated
that the number of Cox's grave in the Manila cemetery was unknown.

Document courtesy of Matthew Westfall, author of The Devil's Causeway

Ira W. Cox was originally buried in the National Cemetery in Manila.
(In a letter to Ira's parents his Company Commander George J. Godfrey indicated that
Ira was buried in grave number 170.)

The remains of Ira Cox were returned to San Francisco, California aboard the transport Hancock on February 24, 1900.

He was re-interred in the San Francisco National Cemetery on April 1, 1900.

Ira W. Cox is buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery,
Section ES Site 542

The grave of Ira W. Cox

Photo by cheekymagee

from the Find A Grave website

For an in depth profile of Ira Cox, go to his pages in the HISTORY section
of the 1st Battalion website by clicking on the following link:

Died A Hero Under the Stars and Stripes

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