Coxswain George Cregan, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 21, 1914 in Vera Cruz, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Florida. Cregan was 27 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 Commander.
Cregan was born on December 11, 1886 in New York, New York. Cregan died on June 30, 1969 in Manasquan, New Jersey, at the age of 82. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Cregan is one of 56 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1914 Veracruz expedition and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Florida, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 April 1914. Cregan was ashore when he volunteered for an assault detail under Ens. George Maus Lowry on the Vera Cruz customhouse under enemy fire both in the alley between the customhouse and warehouse and the assault over the objective's walls. During the move up the alley, he tended a wounded comrade, J.F. Schumaker, holding a compress with one hand and firing with the other.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
During the move up the alley, he tended a wounded comrade, J.F. Schumaker, holding a compress with one hand and firing with the other.
- Age at death: 82
- Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, George Cregan received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I, World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
From the archives
Additional information on his action comes from U.S. Navy General Order No. 101, dated June 15, 1914: The other four volunteers in this action were Lawrence C. Sinnett, Harry C. Beasley, Joseph G. Harner, and J. F. Schumacker. All except for Schumacker received the Medal of Honor.
Timeline
- December 11, 1886Born in New York, New York
- April 21, 1914Act of valor — Vera Cruz, MexicoAge 27. U.S.S. Florida
- 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.
- June 30, 1969Died in Manasquan, New JerseyAge 82.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
George Cregan (December 11, 1885 – June 30, 1969) was a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy. He was a recipient of both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.
From the Wikipedia article “George Cregan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
