Shipfitter First Class Patrick McGunigal was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 17, 1917 at Sea during World War I. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Huntington. McGunigal was 41 years old.
He later rose to the rank of Carpenter.
McGunigal was born on May 30, 1876 in Hubbard, Trumbull County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Ohio. McGunigal died on January 19, 1936 in Montauk, New York, at the age of 59. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
McGunigal is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 256 credited to Ohio.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For extraordinary heroism while attached to the U.S.S. Huntington. On the morning of 17 September 1917, while the U.S.S. Huntington was passing through the war zone, a kite balloon was sent up with Lt. (j.g.) H.W. Hoyt, U.S. Navy, as observer. When the balloon was about 400 feet in the air, the temperature suddenly dropped, causing the balloon to descend about 200 feet, when it was struck by a squall. The balloon was hauled to the ship's side, but the basket trailed in the water and the pilot was submerged. McGunigal, with great daring, climbed down the side of the ship, jumped to the ropes leading to the basket, and cleared the tangle enough to get the pilot out of them. He then helped the pilot to get clear, put a bowline around him, and enabled him to be hauled to the deck. A bowline was lowered to McGunigal and he was taken safely aboard.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Places
From the archives
Some additional details are provided in Navy General Orders 341, dated November 7, 1917:
"On the morning of 17 September 1917, while the U.S.S. Huntington was passing through the war zone, a kite balloon was sent up with Lieut. (junior grade) Henry W. Hoyt, United States Navy, as observer. When the balloon was about 400 feet in the air, the temperature suddenly dropped, causing the balloon to descend about 200 feet, when it was struck by a squall. The nose of the balloon dipped downward into a long nose dive, and it started to roll over. The pilot was inside the basket and could not get out, due to the tangle of ropes overhead. Finally, the balloon was hauled to the ship's side but the basket trailed in the water and the pilot was submerged. McGunigal, with great daring, climbed down the side of the ship, jumped to the ropes leading to the basket, and cleared the tangle enough to get the pilot out of them, helped the pilot to get clear, put a bowline around him and he was hauled to the deck. A bowline was lowered to McGunigal and he was taken safely aboard. McGunigal's action in going to the rescue of this officer was an extraordinary exhibition of self-sacrifice as McGunigal well knew that if he failed there was no chance of himself being rescued."
Timeline
- May 30, 1876Born in Hubbard, Trumbull County, Ohio
- September 17, 1917Act of valor — at SeaAge 41. U.S.S. Huntington
- January 19, 1936Died in Montauk, New YorkAge 59.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Patrick McGunigal (May 30, 1876 – January 19, 1936) was a sailor in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I.
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