Ordinary Seaman Robert Augustus Sweeney was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 20, 1883 in New York Naval Yard, New York — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Yantic.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 18, 1884. Sweeney is one of the few people to receive the Medal of Honor twice; see his other award (October 26, 1881).
His Medal of Honor is credited to New Jersey. Sweeney died on December 19, 1890. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Second Award: Serving on board the U.S.S. Yantic, at the Navy Yard, New York, 20 December 1883, Sweeney rescued from drowning A.A. George, who had fallen overboard from the U.S.S. Jamestown.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →
Timeline
- December 20, 1883Act of valor — New York Naval Yard, New YorkU.S.S. Yantic
- October 18, 1884Medal of Honor presented
- December 19, 1890Died
- Resting placeCalvary CemeteryWoodside, New York
Biography
Robert Augustus Sweeney (February 20, 1853 – December 19, 1890) was a sailor in the United States Navy and is one of only nineteen servicemen, and the only African American, to receive the Medal of Honor twice, both for peace-time actions.
From the Wikipedia article “Robert Augustus Sweeney”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →