Charles Gidding
Encyclopedia
Charles Gidding or Giddings (born 1853, date of death unknown) was a United States Navy
sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
.
, Gidding joined the Navy from that state. By July 26, 1876, he was serving as a seaman
on the . On that day, while Plymouth was at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
, Gidding and another sailor, Landsman William Corey
, attempted to rescue a crewmate who had fallen from the ship's rigging
into the water. For this action, both men were awarded the Medal of Honor two weeks later, on August 9. Another of Plymouths crew, Seaman Thomas Kersey, rescued a shipmate from drowning on the same day and also received the medal.
Gidding's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
Biography
Born in 1853 in Bangor, MaineBangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, Gidding joined the Navy from that state. By July 26, 1876, he was serving as a seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
on the . On that day, while Plymouth was at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Navy Yard
The United States Navy Yard, New York–better known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard or the New York Naval Shipyard –was an American shipyard located in Brooklyn, northeast of the Battery on the East River in Wallabout Basin, a semicircular bend of the river across from Corlear's Hook in Manhattan...
, Gidding and another sailor, Landsman William Corey
William Corey
-External links:...
, attempted to rescue a crewmate who had fallen from the ship's rigging
Rigging
Rigging is the apparatus through which the force of the wind is used to propel sailboats and sailing ships forward. This includes masts, yards, sails, and cordage.-Terms and classifications:...
into the water. For this action, both men were awarded the Medal of Honor two weeks later, on August 9. Another of Plymouths crew, Seaman Thomas Kersey, rescued a shipmate from drowning on the same day and also received the medal.
Gidding's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Serving on board the U.S.S. Plymouth, Gidding showed heroic conduct in trying to save the life of one of the crew of that ship, who had fallen overboard from aloft at the Navy Yard, New York, 26 July 1876.