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Captain of the Top · U.S. Navy

Michael Deneef

Captain of the Top Michael Deneef, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 1, 1875 in Para, Brazil (Interim 1871–1899).

Captain of the Top Michael Deneef, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on December 1, 1875 in Para, Brazil — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Swatara. Deneef was about 24 years old.

Deneef was born in 1851 in Massachusetts. Deneef died on January 28, 1891 in Dedham, Massachusetts, at the age of about 40. He is buried at Brookdale Cemetery in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Swatara at Para, Brazil, 1 December 1875. Displaying gallant conduct, Deneef jumped overboard and rescued one of the crew of that vessel from drowning.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Places

  • Born: Massachusetts — map
  • Died: Dedham — map
  • Buried: Brookdale Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. 1851
    Born in Massachusetts
  2. December 1, 1875
    Act of valor — Para, Brazil
    Age about 24. U.S.S. Swatara
  3. January 28, 1891
    Died in Dedham, Massachusetts
    Age about 40.
  4. Resting place
    Brookdale Cemetery
    Dedham, Massachusetts

Biography

Michael Deneef (1851–1891) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

From the Wikipedia article “Michael Deneef”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

More Interim 1871–1899 recipients from Massachusetts

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.