Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Seaman Henry C. Courtney received the Medal of Honor for his actions on February 7, 1882 in Washington Navy Yard, D.C. — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S. Training Ship Portsmouth. Courtney was about 26 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Courtney was born in 1856 in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to Illinois. Courtney died on April 9, 1887 in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of about 31. He is buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S. training ship Portsmouth, Washington Navy Yard, 7 February 1882. Jumping overboard from that vessel, Courtney assisted in rescuing Charles Taliaferro, jack-of-the-dust, from drowning.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
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Timeline
- 1856Born in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois
- February 7, 1882Act of valor — Washington Navy Yard, D.C.Age about 26. U.S. Training Ship Portsmouth
- April 9, 1887Died in Brooklyn, New YorkAge about 31.
- Resting placeCypress Hills National CemeteryBrooklyn, New York
Biography
Henry C. Courtney (b. 1856 - d. April 9, 1887) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “Henry C. Courtney”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →