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Boatswain's Mate · U.S. Navy

Thomas Cramen

Boatswain's Mate Thomas Cramen, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on February 7, 1882 in Washington Navy Yard, D.C. (Interim 1871–1899).

Boatswain's Mate Thomas Cramen, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on February 7, 1882 in Washington Navy Yard, D.C. — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Portsmouth. Cramen was about 34 years old.

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

Cramen was born in 1848 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Cramen died on March 5, 1915 in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of about 67. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Portsmouth, Washington Navy Yard, 7 February 1882. Jumping overboard from that vessel, Cramen rescued Charles Taliaferro, jack-of-the-dust, from drowning.

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

Places

  • Born: Ireland — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. 1848
    Born in Ireland
  2. February 7, 1882
    Act of valor — Washington Navy Yard, D.C.
    Age about 34. U.S.S. Portsmouth
  3. March 5, 1915
    Died in Brooklyn, New York
    Age about 67.
  4. Resting place
    Holy Cross Cemetery
    Brooklyn, New York

Biography

Thomas Cramen (born 1848, died March 5, 1915) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

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

Also honored for actions on February 7, 1882

Same unit

More Interim 1871–1899 recipients from Massachusetts

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.