Boatswain's Mate John O'Neal was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 12, 1872 in 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. O'Neal was about 31 years old.
5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
O'Neal was born in 1841 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Serving on board the U.S.S. Kansas, O'Neal displayed great coolness and self-possession at the time Comdr. A.F. Crosman and others were drowned near Greytown, Nicaragua, 12 April 1872, and by personal exertion prevented greater loss of life.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Born: Ireland — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- 1841Born in Ireland
- April 12, 1872Act of valor — Greytown, NicaraguaAge about 31. U.S.S. Kansas
Biography
John O'Neal (c. 1841—after 1872) was an Irish-born United States Navy sailor who received the Medal of Honor for heroism on April 12, 1872. He was stationed aboard the USS Kansas as a Boatswain's Mate when, on April 12, 1872, several members of the crew including the expedition commander were drowning near Greytown, Nicaragua.
From the Wikipedia article “John O'Neal (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
