John Brown (Medal of Honor)
Encyclopedia
John Brown was a United States Navy
sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
.
A native of Denmark
, Brown immigrated to the U.S. and joined the Navy from Maryland
. By May 10, 1866, he was serving as captain of the afterguard on the . On that day, while the De Soto was off the coast of Eastport, Maine
, he and two shipmates rescued two sailors from the from drowning. For this action, he and his shipmates, Seaman Richard Bates
and Seaman Thomas Burke, were awarded the Medal of Honor three months later, on August 1.
Brown'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...
.
A native of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Brown immigrated to the U.S. and joined the Navy from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. By May 10, 1866, he was serving as captain of the afterguard on the . On that day, while the De Soto was off the coast of Eastport, Maine
Eastport, Maine
Eastport is a small city in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,640 at the 2000 census. The principal island is Moose Island, which is connected to the mainland by causeway...
, he and two shipmates rescued two sailors from the from drowning. For this action, he and his shipmates, Seaman Richard Bates
Richard Bates
-External links:...
and Seaman Thomas Burke, were awarded the Medal of Honor three months later, on August 1.
Brown's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For heroic conduct with 2 comrades, in rescuing from drowning James Rose and John Russell, seamen, of the U.S.S. Winooski, off Eastport, Maine, 10 May 1866.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime