William Henry Gowan
Encyclopedia
William Henry Gowan was a United States Navy
sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
. He was awarded the medal for his fire-fighting efforts during a blaze in Coquimbo
, Chile
. Gowan went on to have a 35-year Navy career, eventually becoming a warrant officer
before his retirement.
. On that evening, while the division was anchored off Coquimbo
, Chile
, a fire broke out at a hotel in the city. Gowan was among a group of U.S. sailors, led by Captain Bradley A. Fiske, who went ashore and attempted to extinguish the blaze. The group was unable to save the hotel, but successfully kept the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. For their actions during the incident, Gowan and another man, Shipfitter First Class George Huber Wheeler
, were awarded the Medal of Honor two months later, on March 19.
Gowan's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
While serving on the in 1916, Gowan was promoted to chief
boatswain's mate. He eventually reached the warrant officer
rank of boatswain
before retiring from the Navy in 1942, after 35 years of service.
As a civilian, Gowan worked for the Waterbury Rope Sales Corporation in Brooklyn
. He died at work of a heart attack on May 22, 1957, at age 72. His body lay unclaimed for a week before his only remaining close relative, a sister named Ella Wickwire, could be located. In the meantime, the Navy made funeral arrangements for Gowan, who left behind no money for a burial. With his sister's permission, the Navy held a funeral service at the Universal Funeral Chapel in Manhattan
on May 29 and buried Gowan at Long Island National Cemetery
later that day.
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...
. He was awarded the medal for his fire-fighting efforts during a blaze in Coquimbo
Coquimbo
Coquimbo is a port city, commune and capital of the Elqui Province, located on the Pan-American Highway, in the Coquimbo Region of Chile. Coquimbo lies in a valley south of La Serena, with which it forms Greater La Serena with more than 400,000 inhabitants. The commune spans an area around the...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. Gowan went on to have a 35-year Navy career, eventually becoming a warrant officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
before his retirement.
Biography
Gowan was born in Rye, New York, on June 2, 1884, and joined the Navy from that state in about 1907. By January 20, 1909, he was serving as a boatswain's mate on a ship in the 2nd Division of the United States Pacific FleetUnited States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
. On that evening, while the division was anchored off Coquimbo
Coquimbo
Coquimbo is a port city, commune and capital of the Elqui Province, located on the Pan-American Highway, in the Coquimbo Region of Chile. Coquimbo lies in a valley south of La Serena, with which it forms Greater La Serena with more than 400,000 inhabitants. The commune spans an area around the...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, a fire broke out at a hotel in the city. Gowan was among a group of U.S. sailors, led by Captain Bradley A. Fiske, who went ashore and attempted to extinguish the blaze. The group was unable to save the hotel, but successfully kept the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. For their actions during the incident, Gowan and another man, Shipfitter First Class George Huber Wheeler
George Huber Wheeler
-External links:...
, were awarded the Medal of Honor two months later, on March 19.
Gowan's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For bravery and extraordinary heroism displayed by him during a conflagration in Coquimbo, Chile, 20 January 1909.
While serving on the in 1916, Gowan was promoted to chief
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
boatswain's mate. He eventually reached the warrant officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
rank of boatswain
Boatswain
A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
before retiring from the Navy in 1942, after 35 years of service.
As a civilian, Gowan worked for the Waterbury Rope Sales Corporation in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. He died at work of a heart attack on May 22, 1957, at age 72. His body lay unclaimed for a week before his only remaining close relative, a sister named Ella Wickwire, could be located. In the meantime, the Navy made funeral arrangements for Gowan, who left behind no money for a burial. With his sister's permission, the Navy held a funeral service at the Universal Funeral Chapel in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
on May 29 and buried Gowan at Long Island National Cemetery
Long Island National Cemetery
Long Island National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in Suffolk County, New York. Its mailing address is Farmingdale. It is within the CDPS of Wyandanch, in the Town of Babylon, and Melville in the Town of Huntington...
later that day.