John Hayden (Medal of Honor)
Encyclopedia
John Hayden was a United States Navy
sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
.
, Hayden joined the Navy from that city. By July 15, 1879, he was serving as an apprentice on the training ship . On that day, while Saratoga was anchored off Battery Park
in New York Harbor
, Apprentice Robert Lee Robey fell overboard and was swept away by a strong tidal current. Without hesitation, Apprentice David M. Buchanan
jumped into the water and went to Robey, who was not a strong swimmer. Hayden witnessed the event and, when it seemed that Buchanan needed assistance, he too jumped overboard and helped keep Robey afloat until all three men were picked up by the ship's boat. For this action, both Hayden and Buchanan were awarded the Medal of Honor a week later, on July 22.
Hayden's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
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 the United States military's highest 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
Born in 1863 in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Hayden joined the Navy from that city. By July 15, 1879, he was serving as an apprentice on the training ship . On that day, while Saratoga was anchored off Battery Park
Battery Park
Battery Park is a 25-acre public park located at the Battery, the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City, facing New York Harbor. The Battery is named for artillery batteries that were positioned there in the city's early years in order to protect the settlement behind them...
in New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
, Apprentice Robert Lee Robey fell overboard and was swept away by a strong tidal current. Without hesitation, Apprentice David M. Buchanan
David M. Buchanan
-External links:...
jumped into the water and went to Robey, who was not a strong swimmer. Hayden witnessed the event and, when it seemed that Buchanan needed assistance, he too jumped overboard and helped keep Robey afloat until all three men were picked up by the ship's boat. For this action, both Hayden and Buchanan were awarded the Medal of Honor a week later, on July 22.
Hayden's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
On board the U.S. Training Ship Saratoga. On the morning of 15 July 1879, while the Saratoga was anchored off the Battery, in New York Harbor, R. L. Robey, apprentice, fell overboard. As the tide was running strong ebb, the man, not being an expert swimmer, was in danger of drowning. David M. Buchanan, apprentice, instantly, without removing any of his clothing, jumped after him. Stripping himself, Hayden stood coolly watching the 2 in the water, and when he thought his services were required, made a dive from the rail and came up alongside them and rendered assistance until all 3 were picked up by a boat from the ship.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime