Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Seaman John Johnson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 12, 1872 near 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. Johnson was about 33 years old.
5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Johnson was born in 1839 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Serving on board the U.S.S. Kansas, near Greytown, Nicaragua, 12 April 1872, Johnson displayed great coolness and self-possession at the time Comdr. A.F. Crosman and others were drowned and, by extraordinary heroism and personal exertion, prevented greater loss of life.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Born: Philadelphia — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- 1839Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
- April 12, 1872Act of valor — near Greytown, NicaraguaAge about 33. U.S.S. Kansas
Biography
John Johnson (born c. 1839, date of death unknown) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “John Johnson (Medal of Honor, 1839)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
