Seaman First Class Heinrich Behnke, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on January 25, 1905 aboard U.S.S. Iowa, at Sea — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1899 - 1910 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Iowa. Behnke was 22 years old.
5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Behnke was born on April 10, 1882 in Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to Washington, District of Columbia. Behnke died on June 19, 1952, at the age of 70. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While serving aboard the U.S.S. Iowa, Behnke displayed extraordinary heroism at the time of the blowing-out of the manhole plate of boiler D on board that vessel, 25 January 1905.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in District of Columbia →
Timeline
- April 10, 1882Born in Germany
- January 25, 1905Act of valor — U.S.S. Iowa, at SeaAge 22. U.S.S. Iowa
- June 19, 1952DiedAge 70.
- Resting placeLong Island National CemeteryFarmingdale, New York
Biography
Heinrich Behnke (April 10, 1882 – June 19, 1952) was a seaman first class serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.
From the Wikipedia article “Heinrich Behnke (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
