Quartermaster Frank Monroe Upton, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 17, 1918 at Quiberon Bay, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Stewart. Upton was 21 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Ensign.
Upton was born on April 29, 1896 in Loveland, Larimer County, Colorado. His Medal of Honor is credited to Colorado. Upton died on June 25, 1962, at the age of 66. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Upton is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 24 credited to Colorado.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For extraordinary heroism following internal explosion of the Florence H, on 17 April 1918. The sea in the vicinity of wreckage was covered by a mass of boxes of smokeless powder, which were repeatedly exploding. Frank M. Upton, of the U.S.S. Stewart, plunged overboard to rescue a survivor who was surrounded by powder boxes and too exhausted to help himself. Fully realizing the danger from continual explosion of similar powder boxes in the vicinity, he risked his life to save the life of this man.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Colorado →
Timeline
- April 29, 1896Born in Loveland, Larimer County, Colorado
- April 17, 1918Act of valor — Quiberon Bay, FranceAge 21. U.S.S. Stewart
- June 25, 1962DiedAge 66.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Frank Monroe Upton (29 April 1896 – 25 June 1962) was a sailor in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the First World War.
From the Wikipedia article “Frank Monroe Upton”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
