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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Ordinary Seaman · U.S. Navy

Richard Pile

Ordinary Seaman Richard Pile, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 12, 1872 in Greytown, Nicaragua (Interim 1871–1899).

Interim 1871 - 1899 April 12, 1872Born in Barbados

Ordinary Seaman Richard Pile, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 12, 1872 in Greytown, Nicaragua — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Kansas. Pile was about 23 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Pile was born in 1849 in Barbados — one of 2 recipients born in Barbados. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Serving on board the U.S.S. Kansas, Pile displayed great coolness and self-possession at the time Comdr. A.F. Crosman and others were drowned near Greytown, Nicaragua, 12 April 1872, and by his extraordinary heroism and personal exertion prevented greater loss of life.

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

Places

  • Born: Barbados — map
  • Buried: New York — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. 1849
    Born in Barbados
  2. April 12, 1872
    Act of valor — Greytown, Nicaragua
    Age about 23. U.S.S. Kansas

Biography

Richard Pile (born 1849) was an seaman serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

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

Also honored for actions on April 12, 1872

Austin Denham Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1872 GH George Hill Chief Quarter Gunner · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1872 JJ John Johnson Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1872 JO John O'Neal Boatswain's Mate · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1872 JS James Smith Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1872

More Interim 1871–1899 recipients from Massachusetts

George Willis Coxswain · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1873 AB Alexander Bradley Landsman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1872 JH James Horton Captain of the Top · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1879 Patrick J. Kyle Landsman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1879 JE John Enright Landsman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1886 JH John Handran Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1876
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.