Peacetime Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award from President Theodore Roosevelt on January 5, 1906 for his actions on July 21, 1905 while was serving in the US Navy as a boatswain's mate on board the gunboat USS Bennington in San Diego, California, after the ship's boiler exploded, resulting in the death of 66 seamen. In response to the explosion, he heroically saved three of his shipmates from drowning, in spite of his own injuries. Ten other survivors were also awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions that day. He remained in the US Navy, and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He died at the age of 75. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For extraordinary heroism on board the U.S.S. Bennington, displayed at the time of the explosion of a boiler of that vessel at San Diego, Calif., 21 July 1905."
Peacetime Medal of Honor Recipient. He received the award from President Theodore Roosevelt on January 5, 1906 for his actions on July 21, 1905 while was serving in the US Navy as a boatswain's mate on board the gunboat USS Bennington in San Diego, California, after the ship's boiler exploded, resulting in the death of 66 seamen. In response to the explosion, he heroically saved three of his shipmates from drowning, in spite of his own injuries. Ten other survivors were also awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions that day. He remained in the US Navy, and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He died at the age of 75. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For extraordinary heroism on board the U.S.S. Bennington, displayed at the time of the explosion of a boiler of that vessel at San Diego, Calif., 21 July 1905."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Family Members
Advertisement
