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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Fireman First Class · U.S. Navy

Robert Penn

Fireman First Class Robert Penn, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 20, 1898 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War July 20, 1898

Fireman First Class Robert Penn, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 20, 1898 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Iowa. Penn was 25 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Penn was born on October 10, 1872 in City Point (now Hopewell), Prince George County, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Virginia. Penn died on June 8, 1912 in Las Animas, Colorado, at the age of 39. He is buried at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.

Penn is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 48 credited to Virginia.

★ Fire & Explosions at Sea

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Iowa off Santiago de Cuba, 20 July 1898. Performing his duty at the risk of serious scalding at the time of the blowing-out of the manhole gasket on board the vessel, Penn hauled the fire while standing on a board thrown across a coal bucket one foot above the boiling water which was still blowing from the boiler.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: City Point — map
  • Died: Las Animas — map
  • Buried: Eden Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Virginia →

Timeline

  1. October 10, 1872
    Born in City Point (now Hopewell), Prince George County, Virginia
  2. July 20, 1898
    Act of valor — Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
    Age 25. U.S.S. Iowa
  3. June 8, 1912
    Died in Las Animas, Colorado
    Age 39.
  4. Resting place
    Eden Cemetery
    Collingdale, Pennsylvania

Biography

Robert Penn (October 10, 1872 – June 8, 1912) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Spanish–American War.

From the Wikipedia article “Robert Penn (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 20, 1898

PK Philip Bogan Keefer Coppersmith · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898

Same unit

FB Frederick Behne Fireman First Class · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905 HB Heinrich Behnke Seaman First Class · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905 PB Patrick Francis Bresnahan Watertender · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905 DC Demetri Corahorgi Fireman First Class · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905 EF Edward Floyd Boilermaker · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905 JJ Johannes J. Johannessen Chief Watertender · Navy Interim 1899–1910 · 1905

More Spanish-American War recipients from Virginia

DB David Duffy Barrow Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GB George Washington Bright Coal Passer · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 RV Robert Volz Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898
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.