William Sweeney (Medal of Honor)
Encyclopedia
William Sweeney was a United States Navy
sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
.
Born in 1856 in Boston, Massachusetts, Sweeney joined the Navy from that state. By June 15, 1880, he was serving as a landsman
in the engineering department of the . On that night, while Jean Sands was outside the Norfolk Naval Shipyard
, he and another sailor, Landsman James F. O'Conner
, jumped overboard and rescued a young girl from drowning. For this action, both Sweeney and O'Conner were awarded the Medal of Honor four years later, on October 18, 1884.
Sweeney'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...
.
Born in 1856 in Boston, Massachusetts, Sweeney joined the Navy from that state. By June 15, 1880, he was serving as a landsman
Landman (rank)
Landman was a military rank given to naval recruits.-United Kingdom:In the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom in the middle of the 18th century , the term Landman referred to a seaman with less than a year's experience at sea...
in the engineering department of the . On that night, while Jean Sands was outside the Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling, and repairing the Navy's ships. It's the oldest and largest industrial facility that belongs to the U.S. Navy as well as the most...
, he and another sailor, Landsman James F. O'Conner
James F. O'Conner
-External links:...
, jumped overboard and rescued a young girl from drowning. For this action, both Sweeney and O'Conner were awarded the Medal of Honor four years later, on October 18, 1884.
Sweeney's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For jumping overboard from the U.S.S. Jean Sands, opposite the Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va., on the night of 15 June 1880, and rescuing from drowning a young girl who had fallen overboard.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime