George Breeman
Encyclopedia
George Breeman was a United States Navy
sailor who received the Medal of Honor
for his heroism following a turret explosion in 1906 on board the battleship .
, New Jersey
, Breeman enlisted in the United States Navy
in 1902 and was rated as a landsman for training. He served briefly in the receiving ships Columbia (Cruiser No. 12) and Franklin before being assigned to the gunboat Topeka on September 19, 1902. On March 23, 1903 while still in Topeka, he was rated an ordinary seaman. In May 1903, Breeman was reassigned to Kearsarge.
On April 13, 1906, a flash fire occurred in Kearsarge’s forward 13-inch turret where Breeman was serving, killing several officers and men. Burning powder fell into the 13-inch handling room below. Breeman rushed from his battle station in the adjacent powder magazine into the handling room and stamped out the fires. He then returned to the magazine, closed the hatch to the handling room, and began replacing the covers on open powder tanks.
Breeman received the Medal of Honor
on May 5, 1906 for his actions on board Kearsarge the previous month and received $100 as a gratuity.
Not long thereafter, his term of enlistment expired, and Breeman received an honorable discharge from the Navy. On September 16, 1912, he reenlisted at New York City. After a brief period of service in USS Nashville (Gunboat No. 7), he transferred to the battleship on December 23, 1912, where he served for a little more than eight years.
During most of that time, his ship operated in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. During America’s participation in World War I
, however, he and his ship helped to train gunners in northern waters. At the end of the war, Breeman made four voyages to Europe and back in New Hampshire bringing veterans home. During his long tour of duty in New Hampshire, he advanced to the rank of chief turret captain.
On May 20, 1921, Chief Turret Captain transferred to the receiving ship at Hampton Roads, Va., before moving on to a tour of duty at the Naval Air Station Anacostia, in Washington, D.C. In March 1922, Breeman returned to sea in the new battleship . That final sea duty assignment lasted for almost three years. On May 31, 1927, he went ashore for the last time. After successive tours at the Naval Training Station, Hampton Roads, and the Navy Recruiting Station, Newark, N.J., Breeman was transferred to the Fleet Reserve on January 3, 1929.
Chief Turret Captain Breeman died of a heart attack on April 10, 1937, in Passaic, and is buried in Section 6 of Arlington National Cemetery
in Arlington, Virginia
.
, Delaware
. The launching ceremony was sponsored by his niece, Mrs. Marie Breeman Schellgell. The vessel was commissioned by the United States Navy on December 12, 1943, with Lt. Comdr. Edward N.W. Hunter commanding. The boat saw service throughout the Atlantic Ocean
during World War II
, before being decommissioned on April 26, 1946. The Breeman was later transferred to the Nationalist government of China
on October 29, 1948.
Citation:
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 who received 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...
for his heroism following a turret explosion in 1906 on board the battleship .
Biography
Born in PassaicPassaic, New Jersey
Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Breeman enlisted in the 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...
in 1902 and was rated as a landsman for training. He served briefly in the receiving ships Columbia (Cruiser No. 12) and Franklin before being assigned to the gunboat Topeka on September 19, 1902. On March 23, 1903 while still in Topeka, he was rated an ordinary seaman. In May 1903, Breeman was reassigned to Kearsarge.
On April 13, 1906, a flash fire occurred in Kearsarge’s forward 13-inch turret where Breeman was serving, killing several officers and men. Burning powder fell into the 13-inch handling room below. Breeman rushed from his battle station in the adjacent powder magazine into the handling room and stamped out the fires. He then returned to the magazine, closed the hatch to the handling room, and began replacing the covers on open powder tanks.
Breeman received 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...
on May 5, 1906 for his actions on board Kearsarge the previous month and received $100 as a gratuity.
Not long thereafter, his term of enlistment expired, and Breeman received an honorable discharge from the Navy. On September 16, 1912, he reenlisted at New York City. After a brief period of service in USS Nashville (Gunboat No. 7), he transferred to the battleship on December 23, 1912, where he served for a little more than eight years.
During most of that time, his ship operated in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. During America’s participation in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, however, he and his ship helped to train gunners in northern waters. At the end of the war, Breeman made four voyages to Europe and back in New Hampshire bringing veterans home. During his long tour of duty in New Hampshire, he advanced to the rank of chief turret captain.
On May 20, 1921, Chief Turret Captain transferred to the receiving ship at Hampton Roads, Va., before moving on to a tour of duty at the Naval Air Station Anacostia, in Washington, D.C. In March 1922, Breeman returned to sea in the new battleship . That final sea duty assignment lasted for almost three years. On May 31, 1927, he went ashore for the last time. After successive tours at the Naval Training Station, Hampton Roads, and the Navy Recruiting Station, Newark, N.J., Breeman was transferred to the Fleet Reserve on January 3, 1929.
Chief Turret Captain Breeman died of a heart attack on April 10, 1937, in Passaic, and is buried in Section 6 of Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
in Arlington, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
USS Breeman
The destroyer escort was launched on September 4, 1943, by the Dravo Corporation of WilmingtonWilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. The launching ceremony was sponsored by his niece, Mrs. Marie Breeman Schellgell. The vessel was commissioned by the United States Navy on December 12, 1943, with Lt. Comdr. Edward N.W. Hunter commanding. The boat saw service throughout the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, before being decommissioned on April 26, 1946. The Breeman was later transferred to the Nationalist government of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
on October 29, 1948.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: September 15, 1880, Passaic, N.J. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O. No.: 21, May 5, 1906.Citation:
Breeman displayed heroism in the line of his profession while serving on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge at the time of the accidental ignition of powder charges in the forward 13-inch turret.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients during Peacetime