George Sirian
Encyclopedia
George Sirian was a Greek
war orphan brought into the USA
aboard the USS Constitution
("Old Ironsides"). He served in the United States Navy
with distinction for nearly fifty years, first as an ordinary seaman
, and later as a master gunner and warrant officer
.
Sirian's service included multiple tours on the USS Constitution during the first half of the 19th century. His technical expertise, dedication, and leadership remain an inspirational model for the Chief Petty Officers of today’s Navy. The George Sirian Meritorious Service Award, which the Navy awards to those who best exemplify surface warfare excellence, was named in his honor.
Sirian was the only man to serve aboard the Constitution on three separate tours of duty. Naval Museum exhibits about Sirian's life have been shown throughout the country.
. During the Greek War of Independence
, at age six, he witnessed the slaughter of his native Greek countrymen at the hands of Ottoman Turks
. His mother was able to rescue him by placing him on a boat which was heading out to sea, escaping the onslaught of Ottoman troops, before she was killed herself.
Rescued by United States Navy
observers sent there by President James Monroe
, the young refugee spent the next three years serving as either a cabin boy or powder monkey. This way the crew was able to keep him aboard with unofficial duties until he was of legal age to enlist in the Navy on his own. In these unofficial positions, Sirian was able to enlist in the American Navy a few years later aboard the USS Constitution
, which had periodically patrolled the area for years. The ship had been near Chios
during the earlier part of the fighting between the Turks and Greeks
. Its captain had orders not to interfere in the Greek struggle with the Ottoman Turks and was not allowed to shelter refugees. The only way that Sirian could remain aboard was by joining the United States Navy.
He remained in the American Naval Forces for 53 years - possibly the second-longest term of enlistment in U.S. history. (The longest serving enlisted military man was Chief Torpedoman Harry Simmon Morris, who served 55 years on active duty.) During the American Civil War
Sirian distinguished himself as a gunnery instructor at the United States Naval Academy
.
He died in Portsmouth
, Virginia
in 1891.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
war orphan brought into the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aboard the USS Constitution
USS Constitution
USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel...
("Old Ironsides"). He served in the United States Navy
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...
with distinction for nearly fifty years, first as an ordinary 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....
, and later as a master gunner and warrant officer
Warrant Officer (United States)
In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1...
.
Sirian's service included multiple tours on the USS Constitution during the first half of the 19th century. His technical expertise, dedication, and leadership remain an inspirational model for the Chief Petty Officers of today’s Navy. The George Sirian Meritorious Service Award, which the Navy awards to those who best exemplify surface warfare excellence, was named in his honor.
Sirian was the only man to serve aboard the Constitution on three separate tours of duty. Naval Museum exhibits about Sirian's life have been shown throughout the country.
Biography
Sirian was born in 1818 on the Greek island of PsaraPsara
Psara is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. Together with the small uninhabited island of Antipsara it forms the municipality of Psara. It is part of the Chios peripheral unit, which is part of the North Aegean Periphery. The only town of the island and seat of the municipality is also called...
. During the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
, at age six, he witnessed the slaughter of his native Greek countrymen at the hands of Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
. His mother was able to rescue him by placing him on a boat which was heading out to sea, escaping the onslaught of Ottoman troops, before she was killed herself.
Rescued by United States Navy
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...
observers sent there by President James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
, the young refugee spent the next three years serving as either a cabin boy or powder monkey. This way the crew was able to keep him aboard with unofficial duties until he was of legal age to enlist in the Navy on his own. In these unofficial positions, Sirian was able to enlist in the American Navy a few years later aboard the USS Constitution
USS Constitution
USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel...
, which had periodically patrolled the area for years. The ship had been near Chios
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
during the earlier part of the fighting between the Turks and Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
. Its captain had orders not to interfere in the Greek struggle with the Ottoman Turks and was not allowed to shelter refugees. The only way that Sirian could remain aboard was by joining the United States Navy.
He remained in the American Naval Forces for 53 years - possibly the second-longest term of enlistment in U.S. history. (The longest serving enlisted military man was Chief Torpedoman Harry Simmon Morris, who served 55 years on active duty.) During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Sirian distinguished himself as a gunnery instructor at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
.
He died in Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1891.