Seaman Henry Thompson, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on June 27, 1878 at Mare Island, California — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Pensacola. Thompson was about 25 years old.
Thompson was born in 1853 in Eastport, Washington County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to California. Thompson died on February 8, 1948 in Snug Harbor, New Brighton, New York, US, at the age of about 95. He is buried at Sailors Snug Harbor Cemetery in New Brighton, New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For rescuing a man from drowning at Mare Island, Cal., 27 June 1878.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Sailors Snug Harbor Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →
Timeline
- 1853Born in Eastport, Washington County, Maine
- June 27, 1878Act of valor — Mare Island, CaliforniaAge about 25. U.S.S. Pensacola
- February 8, 1948Died in Snug Harbor, New Brighton, New York, USAge about 95.
- Resting placeSailors Snug Harbor CemeteryNew Brighton, New York
Biography
Henry Thompson was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Thompson joined the Navy and by June 27, 1878, was serving at the rank of seaman. At Mare Island, California, that day, he rescued a man from drowning, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Thompson's official Medal of Honor citation reads: For rescuing a man from drowning at Mare Island, Calif., 27 June 1878.
From the Wikipedia article “Henry Thompson (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
