John McCarton
Encyclopedia
John McCarton was a United States Navy
sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
.
in Newport, Rhode Island
, he and another sailor, Quartermaster Henry J. Manning
, jumped overboard in an attempt to save Second Class Musician Jabez Smith from drowning. For this action, both McCarton and Manning were awarded the Medal of Honor three years later, on October 18, 1884.
McCarton'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 1847 in Brooklyn, New York, McCarton joined the Navy from that state. By January 4, 1882, he was serving as a ship's printer on the training ship . On that day, while New Hampshire was off Coaster's Harbor IslandCoaster's Harbor Island
Coaster's Harbor Island is a island in Narragansett Bay, Newport, Rhode Island. The island is home to the Naval War College , an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the...
in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, he and another sailor, Quartermaster Henry J. Manning
Henry J. Manning
-External links:...
, jumped overboard in an attempt to save Second Class Musician Jabez Smith from drowning. For this action, both McCarton and Manning were awarded the Medal of Honor three years later, on October 18, 1884.
McCarton's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For jumping overboard from the U.S. Training Ship New Hampshire off Coasters Harbor Island, near Newport, R.l., 4 January 1882, and endeavoring to rescue Jabez Smith, second class musician, from drowning.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime