Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Landsman Paul Tobin received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 3, 1871 at Hamburg Harbor, Germany — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Plymouth.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Tobin was born in Plybin, France — one of 18 recipients born in France. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brest, France.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Plymouth, Hamburg Harbor, 3 July 1871. Jumping overboard at the imminent risk of his life, Tobin, with a comrade, rescued from drowning one of a party who was thrown from a shore boat into a four-knot running tide while the boat was coming alongside the ship.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Born: Pleyben — map
Timeline
- Date unknownBorn in Plybin, France
- July 3, 1871Act of valor — Hamburg Harbor, GermanyU.S.S. Plymouth
Biography
Paul Tobin was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. A native of Pleyben, France, Tobin joined the U.S. Navy from Brest. By July 3, 1871, he was serving as a landsman on the USS Plymouth. On that day, while the Plymouth was at the Port of Hamburg, Germany, a small boat approached the ship in a strong current. When the boat capsized, Tobin and another sailor, Quarter Gunner George Holt, jumped overboard and rescued one of the boat's crewmen. For this action, both he and Holt were awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on October 10, 1872. Tobin's official Medal of Honor citation reads: On board the U.S.S.
From the Wikipedia article “Paul Tobin (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →