Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Ship's Cook Third Class · U.S. Navy

Jesse Whitfield Covington

Ship's Cook Third Class Jesse Whitfield Covington, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 17, 1918 at Quiberon Bay, France during World War I.

World War I April 17, 1918

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Ship's Cook Third Class Jesse Whitfield Covington received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 17, 1918 at Quiberon Bay, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Stewart. Covington was 28 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 15, 1918 — on board the U.S.S. Stewart at Brest, France, presented by Vice Admiral Nilson. He later rose to the rank of Chief Steward.

Covington was born on September 16, 1889 in Haywood County, Tennessee. His Medal of Honor is credited to California. Covington died on November 21, 1966 in Richmond, Virginia, at the age of 77. He is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Covington is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 142 credited to California.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

For extraordinary heroism following internal explosion of the Florence H. The sea in the vicinity of wreckage was covered by a mass of boxes of smokeless powder, which were repeatedly exploding. Jesse W. Covington, of the U.S.S. Stewart, plunged overboard to rescue a survivor who was surrounded by powder boxes and too exhausted to help himself, fully realizing that similar powder boxes in the vicinity were continually exploding and that he was thereby risking his life in saving the life of this man.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Haywood County — map
  • Buried: Oak Grove Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →

Timeline

  1. September 16, 1889
    Born in Haywood County, Tennessee
  2. April 17, 1918
    Act of valor — Quiberon Bay, France
    Age 28. U.S.S. Stewart
  3. September 15, 1918
    Medal of Honor presented
    On board the U.S.S. Stewart at Brest, France, presented by Vice Admiral Nilson
  4. November 21, 1966
    Died in Richmond, Virginia
    Age 77.
  5. Resting place
    Oak Grove Cemetery
    Portsmouth, Virginia

Biography

Jesse Whitfield Covington (September 16, 1889 – November 21, 1966) was an American sailor serving in the United States Navy during World War I who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “Jesse Whitfield Covington”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 17, 1918

FU Frank Monroe Upton Quartermaster · Navy World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from California

Harold W. Roberts Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ CW Chester Howard West First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 Nelson Miles Holderman Captain · Army World War I · 1918 PK Phillip Carl Katz Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 LS Lloyd Martin Seibert Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 OG Ora Graves Seaman · Navy World War I · 1917
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.