| Ira Clinton Welborn | |
| Birth Date: | 13 February 1874 |
| Birth Place: | Mico, Mississippi |
| Death Place: | Gulfport, Mississippi |
| Placeofburial: | Biloxi National Cemetery, Biloxi, Mississippi |
| Placeofburial Label: | Place of burial |
| Allegiance: | United States of America |
| Branch: | United States Army |
| Serviceyears: | 1898–1932 |
| Rank: | Colonel |
| Commands: | Tank Corps, National Army |
| Battles: | Spanish–American War Philippine–American War Boxer Rebellion World War I |
| Awards: | Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Medal |
Ira Clinton Welborn (February 13, 1874 – July 13, 1956) was a United States Army colonel who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor in action on July 2, 1898, at Santiago, Cuba.[1] [2]
Ira C. Welborn was born in Mico, Mississippi. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point as a member of the class of 1898.[3] [4] Just a few weeks after his graduation from the Academy he was assigned as a 2nd lieutenant to the 9th Infantry Regiment, to serve in the Spanish–American War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of San Juan Hill, near Santiago, Cuba, on July 2, 1898, which he received on June 21, 1899.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, 9th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Santiago, Cuba, 2 July 1898. Entered service at: Mico, Miss. Birth: Mico, Miss. Date of issue: 21 June 1899.
Citation:
Voluntarily left shelter and went, under fire, to the aid of a private of his company who was wounded.
Welborn served in three other conflicts: the Philippine–American War, the Boxer Rebellion, and World War I, eventually rising to the rank of colonel.[4] [5] He served as a Tactical Officer at West Point, 1904–1906. After the tank was introduced to the battlefield in World War I, Welborn was detailed to be the first head of the fledgling United States Army Tank Service, for which he received the Distinguished Service Medal.[4] He retired from service in 1932.[5]
He was a member of the Society of the Army of Santiago de Cuba and the Military Order of the Dragon.
Wellborn died in Gulfport, Mississippi, on July 13, 1956.[5] His son, John C. Welborn, also attended West Point, rose to the rank of colonel, and commanded the United States Army's 33rd Armored Regiment during World War II.[6]