Seaman James Smith was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 12, 1872 in Greytown, Nicaragua — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Kansas. Smith was 33 years old.
5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Smith was born on July 5, 1838 in Hawaiian Islands (then called Sandwich Islands). His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. His medal is held by Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Serving on board the U.S.S. Kansas, Smith displayed great coolness and self-possession at the time Comdr. A. F. Crosman and others were drowned near Greytown, Nicaragua, 12 April 1872, and by extraordinary heroism and personal exertion, prevented greater loss of life.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Born: Hawaii — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- July 5, 1838Born in Hawaiian Islands (then called Sandwich Islands)
- April 12, 1872Act of valor — Greytown, NicaraguaAge 33. U.S.S. Kansas
Biography
James Smith (born 1838) was a seaman serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.
From the Wikipedia article “James Smith (Medal of Honor, 1872)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
