Seaman Austin Denham, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 12, 1872 near Greytown, Nicaragua — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Kansas. Denham was 21 years old.
5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Denham was born on September 29, 1850 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Denham died on June 2, 1948 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 97. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Kansas near Greytown, Nicaragua, 12 April 1872. Displaying great coolness and self-possession at the time Comdr. A.F. Crosman and others were drowned, Denham, by heroism and personal exertion, prevented greater loss of life.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- September 29, 1850Born in England
- April 12, 1872Act of valor — near Greytown, NicaraguaAge 21. U.S.S. Kansas
- June 2, 1948Died in Los Angeles, CaliforniaAge 97.
- Resting placeCalvary CemeteryLos Angeles, California
Biography
Austin Denham (September 29, 1850 – June 3, 1948) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “Austin Denham”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →