Chief Boatswain's Mate John MacKenzie was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 17, 1917 off the French Coast during World War I. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Remlik. MacKenzie was 31 years old.
MacKenzie was born on July 7, 1886 in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. MacKenzie died on December 26, 1933, at the age of 47. He is buried at Forest Dale Cemetery in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
MacKenzie is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For extraordinary heroism while serving on board the U.S.S. Remlik, on the morning of 17 December 1917, when the Remlik encountered a heavy gale. During this gale, there was a heavy sea running. The depth charge box on the taffrail aft, containing a Sperry depth charge, was washed overboard, the depth charge itself falling inboard and remaining on deck. MacKenzie, on his own initiative, went aft and sat down on the depth charge, as it was impracticable to carry it to safety until the ship was headed up into the sea. In acting as he did, MacKenzie exposed his life and prevented a serious accident to the ship and probable loss of the ship and the entire crew.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- July 7, 1886Born in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut
- December 17, 1917Act of valor — off the French CoastAge 31. U.S.S. Remlik
- December 26, 1933DiedAge 47.
- Resting placeForest Dale CemeteryHolyoke, Massachusetts
Biography
John MacKenzie (July 7, 1886 – December 26, 1933) was a sailor in the United States Naval Reserve and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “John MacKenzie (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
