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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant Commander · U.S. Navy

William Merrill Corry Jr.

Lieutenant Commander William Merrill Corry Jr., Navy, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on October 2, 1920 near Hartford, Connecticut (Interim 1920–1940).

Interim 1920 - 1940 October 2, 1920Posthumous

Lieutenant Commander William Merrill Corry Jr. was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on October 2, 1920 near Hartford, Connecticut — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1920 - 1940 period. Corry was 30 years old.

Corry was born on October 5, 1889 in Quincy, Gadsden County, Florida. His Medal of Honor is credited to Florida. Corry died on October 6, 1920 in Hartford, Connecticut, at the age of 31. He is buried at Eastern Cemetery in Quincy, Florida.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving★ Aviators & Aircrew★ Wounded but Fought On

Official Medal of Honor citation

For heroic service in attempting to rescue a brother officer from a flame-enveloped airplane. On 2 October 1920, an airplane in which Lt. Comdr. Corry was a passenger crashed and burst into flames. He was thrown 30 feet clear of the plane and, though injured, rushed back to the burning machine and endeavored to release the pilot. In so doing he sustained serious burns, from which he died four days later.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

He was thrown 30 feet clear of the plane and, though injured, rushed back to the burning machine and endeavored to release the pilot.
In so doing he sustained serious burns, from which he died four days later.
  • Awarded posthumously — died October 6, 1920.
  • Age at death: 31
  • Resting place: Eastern Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Quincy — map
  • Died: Hartford — map
  • Buried: Eastern Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Florida →

Timeline

  1. October 5, 1889
    Born in Quincy, Gadsden County, Florida
  2. October 2, 1920
    Act of valor — near Hartford, Connecticut
    Age 30.
  3. October 6, 1920
    Died in Hartford, Connecticut
    Age 31.
  4. Resting place
    Eastern Cemetery
    Quincy, Florida

Biography

William Merrill Corry Jr. (October 5, 1889 – October 6, 1920) was a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy during World War I and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

From the Wikipedia article “William M. Corry Jr.”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

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.