Bucky O'Neill - Prescott, Arizona
N 34° 32.476 W 112° 28.163
12S E 365167 N 3823154
A man who made his mark in Arizona, and in the heart of a US President for his service to the country.
Waymark Code: WM95DZ
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 07/01/2010
Views: 35
William Owen O'Neill, the son of Irish immigrant parents, was born on February 2, 1860, either in St. Louis, Missouri, or Washington,
D.C. In 1879, O'Neill left home, heading for Arizona Territory. O'Neill joined the Tombstone Epitaph during the time of the infamous Gunbattle of the OK Corral. Some speculate that he may have been the one who reported on the gunfight. Shortly afterwards, he went to Prescott, Arizona.
In 1888, while serving as Yavapai County judge, he was elected county sheriff. After his term was up, O'Neill was elected unanimously Mayor of Prescott. In 1898, war broke out between the United States and Spain. O'Neill joined the Rough Riders and became Captain of Troop A.
On July 1, 1898, at about 10am, the Rough Riders and the 10th Cavalry were stationed below Kettle Hill. The Spaniards, who were on top of the hill, poured machine gun and Mauser fire down on the Americans. Buckey O'Neill was killed in action.
Buckey O'Neill monument
Theodore Roosevelt, commander of the Rough Riders, wrote about the death of O'Neill: "The most serious loss that I and the regiment could have suffered befell just before we charged. O'Neill was strolling up and down in front of his men, smoking his cigarette, for he was inveterately addicted to the habit. He had a theory that an officer ought never to take cover - a theory which was, of course, wrong, though in a volunteer organization the officers should certainly expose themselves very fully, simply for the effect on the men; our regimental toast on the transport running, 'The officers; may the war last until each is killed, wounded, or promoted.' As O'Neill moved to and fro, his men begged him to lie down, and one of the sergeants said, 'Captain, a bullet is sure to hit you.' O'Neill took his cigarette out of his mouth, and blowing out a cloud of smoke laughed and said, 'Sergeant, the Spanish bullet isn't made that will kill me.' A little later he discussed for a moment with one of the regular officers the direction from which the Spanish fire was coming. As he turned on his heel a bullet struck him in the mouth and came out at the back of his head; so that even before he fell his wild and gallant soul had gone out into the darkness."
On July 3, 1907, a monument by sculptor Solon Borglum was dedicated to O'Neill and the other Rough Riders in their memory in Prescott, Arizona. The boulder on which the statue is mounted on weighs roughly 28 tons, according to one website.
Website with background information about this Waymark: [Web Link]
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