Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Ordinary Seaman John Hugh Catherwood received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 24, 1911 near the village of Mundang, Basilan Island, Philippine Islands during the 1911 actions against outlaws in the Philippines. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Pampanga. Catherwood was 23 years old.
5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 1912.
Catherwood was born on August 7, 1888 in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to Illinois. Catherwood died on December 18, 1930 in Springfield, Illinois, at the age of 42. He is buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.
Catherwood is one of 6 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1911 actions against outlaws in the Philippines and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While attached to the U.S.S. Pampang, Catherwood was one of a shore party moving in to capture Mundang, on the island of Basilan, P.I., on the morning of 24 September 1911. Advancing with the scout party to reconnoiter a group of nipa huts close to the trail, Catherwood unhesitatingly entered the open area before the huts, where his party was suddenly taken under point-blank fire and charged by approximately 20 enemy Moros coming out from inside the native huts and from other concealed positions. Struck down almost instantly by the outlaws' deadly fire, Catherwood, although unable to rise, rallied to the defense of his leader and fought desperately to beat off the hostile attack. By his valiant effort under fire and in the face of great odds, Catherwood contributed materially toward the destruction and rout of the enemy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
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Timeline
- August 7, 1888Born in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois
- September 24, 1911Act of valor — near the village of Mundang, Basilan Island, Philippine IslandsAge 23. U.S.S. Pampanga
- January 1912Medal of Honor presented
- December 18, 1930Died in Springfield, IllinoisAge 42.
- Resting placeCamp Butler National CemeterySpringfield, Illinois
Biography
John Hugh Catherwood (August 7, 1888 – November 18, 1930) was a United States Navy Ordinary Seaman received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Moro Rebellion aboard USS Pampanga (PG-39) Seaman Catherwood was critically wounded during the action on September 24, 1911, for which he and six other men were awarded their medals. Catherwood died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on November 18, 1930. Seaman Catherwood is buried in the Camp Butler National Cemetery.
From the Wikipedia article “John Hugh Catherwood”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
