Daniel Atkins was a United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

.

Biography

Atkins was born on November 18, 1866 in Brunswick, Virginia

Brunswick County, Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 18,419 people, 6,277 households, and 4,312 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,541 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...

. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from the same state. While serving as Ship's Cook First Class on the , at sea on February 11, 1898, he and Gunner's Mate Third Class John Everetts attempted to save the drowning officer Ensign Joseph Breckinridge

Joseph Breckinridge

Joseph Cabell Breckinridge was an officer in the United States Navy in the Spanish-American War. He was the son of Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, Sr., a Major General in the United States Army, and a member of the prominent Breckinridge family.-Biography:Breckinridge was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia...

, who had fallen overboard. For their conduct on this occasion, both Atkins and Everetts were awarded the Medal of Honor. Atkins later obtained the rank of Chief Commissary Steward.

Atkins died on May 11, 1923 at Portsmouth, Virginia

Portsmouth, Virginia

Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...

, and was buried in Captain Ted Conaway Memorial Naval Cemetery in the same city.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Ship's Cook, First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 1867, Brunswick, Va. Accredited to: Virginia. G.O. No.: 489, May 20, 1898.

Citation:

On board the U.S.S. Cushing, 11 February 1898. Showing gallant conduct, Atkins attempted to save the life of the late Ens. Joseph C. Breckenridge, U.S. Navy, who fell overboard at sea from that vessel on this date.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients during Peacetime