Patrick Francis Bresnahan – Medal of Honor, Interim 1899

Watertender Patrick Francis Bresnahan, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on January 25, 1905 aboard U.S.S. Iowa, at Sea — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1899 - 1910 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Iowa. Bresnahan was 32 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 14, 1921, 16 years after the action.

Bresnahan was born on May 1, 1872 in Peabody, Essex County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Vermont. Bresnahan died on January 29, 1940, at the age of 67. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts.

★ Fire & Explosions at Sea

Official Medal of Honor citation

Serving on board the U.S.S. Iowa for extraordinary heroism at the time of the blowing-out of the manhole plate of boiler D on board that vessel, 25 January 1905.

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

Places

Born: Peabody — map
Buried: Massachusetts — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Vermont →

Timeline

May 1, 1872
Born in Peabody, Essex County, Massachusetts
January 25, 1905
Act of valor — U.S.S. Iowa, at Sea
Age 32. U.S.S. Iowa
April 14, 1921
Medal of Honor presented
January 29, 1940
Died
Age 67.
Resting place
St. Mary's Cemetery
Salem, Massachusetts

Biography

Patrick Francis Bresnahan (May 1, 1872 – January 29, 1940) was a watertender serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “Patrick Francis Bresnahan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on January 25, 1905

FB Frederick Behne Fireman First Class · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905 HB Heinrich Behnke Seaman First Class · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905 DC Demetri Corahorgi Fireman First Class · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905 EF Edward Floyd Boilermaker · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905 JJ Johannes J. Johannessen Chief Watertender · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905

Same unit

PK Philip Bogan Keefer Coppersmith · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 RP Robert Penn Fireman First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898

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.