Lieutenant Abraham Desomer was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 21, 1914 in Vera Cruz, on board the U.S.S. Utah, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Utah. Desomer was 29 years old.
40 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 6, 1915 — presented by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on the deck of the USS Florida at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Ret..
Desomer was born on December 29, 1884 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. His Medal of Honor is credited to Wisconsin. Desomer died on August 31, 1974 in Tacoma, Washington, at the age of 89. He is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco, California. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
Desomer is one of 56 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1914 Veracruz expedition and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Utah, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21-22 April 1914.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wisconsin →
From the archives
Additional information on his action comes from U.S. Navy General Order No. 101, dated June 15, 1914: "On the afternoon of April 21 he was placed in charge of a small squad of men and stationed at the corner of a warehouse to eastward of the customhouse. His position was subject to a severe fire from the buildings along Avenida Landero y Cos, and after several hours of well-directed fire he silenced it. On April 22, when a general advance began, he was sent ahead to locate and silence fire from snipers. Being an excellent marksman and notably cool, he was especially selected for this work. Later, when two sections of artillery were sent to join Capt. Anderson's command, he performed similar service and was almost continually under direct fire from the snipers. His services in this connection were of more value than a whole squad... De Somers will be advanced to the next higher rating. To De Somers is extended the privilege of taking the fall examination for either boatswain or gunner, and if he successfully passes same he will be accordingly promoted, as is provided for by article 3661 (l) of the United States Navy Regulations, 1913."
Timeline
- December 29, 1884Born in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
- April 21, 1914Act of valor — Vera Cruz, on board the U.S.S. Utah, MexicoAge 29. U.S.S. Utah
- January 6, 1915Medal of Honor presentedPresented by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on the deck of the USS Florida at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
- August 31, 1974Died in Tacoma, WashingtonAge 89.
- Resting placeSan Francisco National CemeterySan Francisco, California
Biography
Abraham DeSomer (December 29, 1884 – August 31, 1974) was an enlisted man and later an officer in the United States Navy. He received America's highest military decoration – the Medal of Honor – for actions during the American intervention at Veracruz, Mexico.
From the Wikipedia article “Abraham DeSomer”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
