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Gunner's Mate First Class · U.S. Navy

Osmond Kelly Ingram

Gunner's Mate First Class Osmond Kelly Ingram, Navy, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on October 15, 1917 at sea 20 miles south of Mind Head Lighthouse, Monagoush, County Waterford, Ireland during World War I.

World War I October 15, 1917Posthumous

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Gunner's Mate First Class Osmond Kelly Ingram was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on October 15, 1917 at sea 20 miles south of Mind Head Lighthouse, Monagoush, County Waterford, Ireland during World War I. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Cassin. Ingram was 30 years old.

Ingram was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded.

Ingram was born on August 4, 1887 in Oneonta, Blount County, Alabama. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pratt City, Jefferson County, Alabama. He is buried at A.B.M.C. Wall of the Missing in Brookwood, England. His medal is held by Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL.

Ingram is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 21 credited to Alabama.

★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor citation

For extraordinary heroism in the presence of the enemy on the occasion of the torpedoing of the Cassin, 15 October 1917. While the Cassin was searching for the submarine, Ingram sighted the torpedo coming, and realizing that it might strike the ship aft in the vicinity of the depth charges, ran aft with the intention of releasing the depth charges before the torpedo could reach the Cassin. The torpedo struck the ship before he could accomplish his purpose, and Ingram was killed by the explosion. The depth charges exploded immediately afterward. His life was sacrificed in an attempt to save the ship and his shipmates, as the damage to the ship would have been much less if he had been able to release the depth charges.

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

Wounds and death in action

  • Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (October 15, 1917).
  • Age at death: 30
  • Resting place: A.B.M.C. Wall of the Missing

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Oneonta — map
  • Died: Celtic Sea — map
  • Buried: Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Alabama →

Timeline

  1. August 4, 1887
    Born in Oneonta, Blount County, Alabama
  2. October 15, 1917
    Act of valor — at sea 20 miles south of Mind Head Lighthouse, Monagoush, County Waterford, Ireland
    Age 30. U.S.S. Cassin Killed in action.
  3. Resting place
    A.B.M.C. Wall of the Missing
    Brookwood

Biography

Osmond Kelly Ingram (August 4, 1887 – October 15, 1917) was a sailor in the United States Navy during World War I who received the Medal of Honor posthumously. He was the first American sailor to die in World War I.

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

Further reading

More World War I recipients from Alabama

Sidney E. Manning Corporal · Army World War I · 1918
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.