Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13

Cooper · U.S. Navy

William Johnson

Cooper William Johnson, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 14, 1879 at Mare Island Navy Yard, California (Interim 1871–1899).

Cooper William Johnson, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on November 14, 1879 at Mare Island Navy Yard, California — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Adams. Johnson was about 24 years old.

Johnson was born in 1855 in Saint Vincent — one of 1 recipient born in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Johnson died on May 20, 1903 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of about 48. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Serving on board the U.S.S. Adams at the Navy Yard, Mare Island, Cal., 14 November 1879, Johnson rescued Daniel W. Kloppen, a workman, from drowning.

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

Places

  • Born: Saint Vincent — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1855
    Born in Saint Vincent
  2. November 14, 1879
    Act of valor — Mare Island Navy Yard, California
    Age about 24. U.S.S. Adams
  3. May 20, 1903
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age about 48.
  4. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

William Johnson (1855 – May 20, 1903) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

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

Same unit

More Interim 1871–1899 recipients from New York

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.