Ordinary Seaman Apprentice John F. Auer was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 20, 1883 in Marseille, France — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Lancaster. Auer was about 17 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Auer was born in 1866 in New York. Auer died on March 27, 1951, at the age of about 85. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Nyack, New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Lancaster, Marseille, France, 20 November 1883. Jumping overboard, Auer rescued from drowning a French lad who had fallen into the sea from a stone pier astern of the ship.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1866Born in New York
- November 20, 1883Act of valor — Marseille, FranceAge about 17. U.S.S. Lancaster
- March 27, 1951DiedAge about 85.
- Resting placeOak Hill CemeteryNyack, New York
Biography
John F. Auer (1866 – March 28, 1951) was a sailor in the United States Navy who was one of 193 people received the Medal of Honor in non-combat events, a practice no longer authorized by law, and one of only 3,449 recipients of the award.
From the Wikipedia article “John F. Auer”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →