Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Chief Master-of-Arms John S. Stokes received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 31, 1899 off the coast of Jamaica, Jamaica — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1899 - 1910 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. New York. Stokes was 27 years old.
He later rose to the rank of Boatswain.
Stokes was born on June 12, 1871 in New York, New York. Stokes died on February 14, 1923, at the age of 51. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. New York off the coast of Jamaica, 31 March 1899. Showing gallant conduct, Stokes jumped overboard and assisted in the rescue of Peter Mahoney, watertender, U.S. Navy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
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Timeline
- June 12, 1871Born in New York, New York
- March 31, 1899Act of valor — off the coast of Jamaica, JamaicaAge 27. U.S.S. New York
- February 14, 1923DiedAge 51.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
John S. Stokes was a Chief Master-at-Arms in the United States Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient. He was born in New York on June 12, 1871. He enlisted in the Navy and had risen to the rank of chief master-at-arms when, on March 31, 1899, on board the armored cruiser USS New York he jumped overboard to assist in the rescue of a fellow sailor who was in danger of drowning. For this action he was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 29, 1899. He was appointed to the warrant officer rank of boatswain on January 31, 1907, and retired from the Navy on July 26, 1911. He spent the last years of his life at the US Navy Treatment Hospital in Washington, D.C.
From the Wikipedia article “John Stokes (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
