Boatswain's Mate William S. (Willie) Cronan, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 21, 1905 at San Diego harbor on board U.S.S. Bennington, California — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1899 - 1910 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Bennington. Cronan was 21 years old.
10 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Cronan was born on October 18, 1883 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to Illinois. Cronan died on October 22, 1959, at the age of 76. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Serving on board the U.S.S. Bennington, for extraordinary heroism displayed at the time of the explosion of a boiler of that vessel at San Diego, Cal., 21 July 1905.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
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Timeline
- October 18, 1883Born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
- July 21, 1905Act of valor — San Diego harbor on board U.S.S. Bennington, CaliforniaAge 21. U.S.S. Bennington
- October 22, 1959DiedAge 76.
- Resting placeFort Rosecrans National CemeterySan Diego, California
Biography
William "Willie" S. Cronan (October 23, 1883 – October 22, 1959) was a boatswain's mate serving in the United States Navy during the first half of the twentieth century who was awarded the Medal of Honor for peacetime bravery in 1906.
From the Wikipedia article “William S. Cronan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
