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Seaman · U.S. Navy

Christian Osepins

Seaman Christian Osepins, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 7, 1882 in Hampton Roads, Virginia (Interim 1871–1899).

Seaman Christian Osepins was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 7, 1882 in Hampton Roads, Virginia — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S. Tug Fortune. Osepins was about 24 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Osepins was born in 1858 in Holland (The Netherlands) — one of 6 recipients born in Netherlands. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Osepins died on October 8, 1887 in Schiedam, Netherlands, at the age of about 29. He is buried at Begraafglaats aan de Broersvest Cemetery in Broersvest, Netherlands. Records also list him as Osephins, Christian.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For jumping overboard from the U.S. Tug Fortune, 7 May 1882, at Hampton Roads, Va., and rescuing from drowning James Walters, gunner's mate.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Places

  • Born: Netherlands — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1858
    Born in Holland (The Netherlands)
  2. May 7, 1882
    Act of valor — Hampton Roads, Virginia
    Age about 24. U.S. Tug Fortune
  3. October 8, 1887
    Died in Schiedam, Netherlands
    Age about 29.
  4. Resting place
    Begraafglaats aan de Broersvest Cemetery
    Broersvest

Biography

Christian Osepins (1858–1887) was a Dutch-born United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

From the Wikipedia article “Christian Osepins”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 7, 1882

More Interim 1871–1899 recipients from New York

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.