Ia tusi se faaauauina o lenei palakalafa - Na fanau Ira C. Welborn i Mico, Misisipi. Na faauu o ia i le United States Military Academy o se sui o le vasega o le 1898. Na o ni nai vaiaso talu ona faauu mai le Academy, na tofia ai o ia e avea ma 2nd Lieutenant i le 9th Infantry Regiment, e tautua i le Spanish-American War. Na ia mauaina le Medal of Honor mo ana gaoioiga i le Taua o le Mauga o San Juan
, e lata i Santiago, Cuba, iā Iulai 2, 1898, lea na ia mauaina iā Iuni 21, 1899.