Robert Edward Cox – Medal of Honor, Interim 1899

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Chief Gunner Robert Edward Cox received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 13, 1904 aboard U.S.S. Missouri at Sea, Caribbean Sea — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1899 - 1910 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Missouri. Cox was 27 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 14, 1921, 17 years after the action — the White House, presented by Pres. Warren G. Harding.

Cox was born on December 22, 1876 in St. Albans, Kanawha County, West Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to West Virginia. Cox died on April 24, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 60. He is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His medal is held by National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For extraordinary heroism on U.S.S. Missouri 13 April 1904. While at target practice off Pensacola, Fla., an accident occurred in the after turret of the Missouri whereby the lives of five officers and 28 men were lost. The ship was in imminent danger of destruction by explosion, and the prompt action of C.G. Cox and two gunners' mates caused the fire to be brought under control, and the loss of the Missouri, together with her crew, was averted.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

Born: St. Albans — map
Buried: Rose Hill Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in West Virginia →

From the archives

Additional information is available in Navy General Order 43, dated April 14, 1921:

"The records of the department show that while at target practice off Pensacola, Fla., on April 13, 1904, an accident occurred in the after turret of the Missouri whereby the lives of 5 officers and 28 enlisted men were lost. That the ship was in immienent danger of destruction by explosion owing to the blazing fire in contact with the thin copper tanks containing smokeless powder in one of the 12-inch magazines. That by the prompt action of Cox and two gunners mates the fire was brought under control and the loss of the Missouri, together with her crew, was averted."

The two gunners mates also received the Medal of Honor: Mons Monssen and Charles S. Schepke.

Timeline

December 22, 1876
Born in St. Albans, Kanawha County, West Virginia
April 13, 1904
Act of valor — U.S.S. Missouri at Sea, Caribbean Sea
Age 27. U.S.S. Missouri
April 14, 1921
Medal of Honor presented
The White House, presented by Pres. Warren G. Harding
April 24, 1937
Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Age 60.
Resting place
Rose Hill Cemetery
Altoona, Pennsylvania

Biography

Robert Edward Cox (December 22, 1876 – April 24, 1937) was a sailor serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

From the Wikipedia article “Robert Edward Cox”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 13, 1904

Mons Monssen Chief Gunner's Mate · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1904

Charles Stephen Schepke Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1904

Same unit

LH Luovi Halling Boatswain's Mate First Class · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1904 AP Alexander Peters Boatswain's Mate First Class · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1904

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.