Boatswain's Mate Second Class Percy A. Decker, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 21, 1914 in Vera Cruz, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Florida. Decker was 23 years old.
40 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 6, 1915 — presented by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on the deck of the USS Florida at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant.
Decker was born on August 4, 1890 in New York, New York. Decker died on August 18, 1936, at the age of 46. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Decker is one of 56 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1914 Veracruz expedition and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Florida during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 April 1914; for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
From the archives
Additional information on his action comes from U.S. Navy General Order No. 101, dated June 15, 1914. Ensign G. M. Lowry called for volunteers to go into an alleyway between the customhouse and an open warehouse from which heavy fire was being directed. Five volunteers agreed to go. "On April 21, after Ensign G. M. Lowry, had called for volunteers, Decker took up a position in their rear about 10 yards. When Ensign Lowry stepped back to call the ambulance party to get Shumaker's body, a Mexican soldier who had been hiding behind the boxes in the open warehouse rose up and was aiming his piece at Ensign Lowry and the five volunteers, when Decker divered his attention to himself and shot him."
Timeline
- August 4, 1890Born in New York, New York
- April 21, 1914Act of valor — Vera Cruz, MexicoAge 23. U.S.S. Florida
- January 6, 1915Medal of Honor presentedPresented by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on the deck of the USS Florida at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
- August 18, 1936DiedAge 46.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Percy Austin Decker (August 4, 1890 – August 18, 1936) was a Boatswain's Mate, Second Class in the United States Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the United States occupation of Veracruz. Decker was promoted to the rank of ensign on August 15, 1918, and to lieutenant on March 3, 1922. He died while on active duty on August 18, 1936, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
From the Wikipedia article “Percy A. Decker”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
