Watertender Emil Fredericksen was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 21, 1905 at San Diego harbor on board U.S.S. Bennington, California — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1899 - 1910 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Bennington. Fredericksen was 38 years old.
10 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Fredericksen was born on January 5, 1867 in Denmark — one of 11 recipients born in Denmark. Fredericksen died on June 14, 1950 in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 83. He is buried at Evergreen-Washetelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington. Records also list him as Fredreksen, Emil.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Serving on board the U.S.S. Bennington, for extraordinary heroism displayed at the time of the explosion of a boiler of that vessel at San Diego, Cal., 21 July 1905.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Timeline
- January 5, 1867Born in Denmark
- July 21, 1905Act of valor — San Diego harbor on board U.S.S. Bennington, CaliforniaAge 38. U.S.S. Bennington
- June 14, 1950Died in Seattle, WashingtonAge 83.
- Resting placeEvergreen-Washetelli CemeterySeattle, Washington
Biography
Emil Fredericksen or Fredreksen (1867–1950) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He earned the award for rescuing injured shipmates despite hazardous conditions following a 1905 boiler explosion aboard his ship, USS Bennington (PG-4).
From the Wikipedia article “Emil Fredericksen”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
