John King (sailor)
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| John King | |
|---|---|
| February 7, 1865 – May 20, 1938 (aged 73) | |
 John King (sailor), Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Place of birth | Ireland |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1893-1916, fl. 1917-1919 |
| Unit | USS Vicksburg USS Salem |
| Battles/wars | Spanish-American War Philippine-American War World War I |
| Awards | Medal of Honor (2) |
John King (7 February 1865 – 20 May 1938) was a sailor in the United States Navy and one of only 19 in history to receive the Medal of Honor twice.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Born in Ireland, King enlisted in the Navy as a coal passer in Vermont on 20 July 1893. He served on board Massachusetts in the Caribbean during the Spanish-American War, and, in 1900, was transferred to Vicksburg for service during the Philippine-American War.
King received his first Medal of Honor while in Vicksburg "for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession at the time of the accident to the boilers... 29 May 1901." Eight years later, while a water tender in Salem, King received a second Medal of Honor during another boiler explosion on 13 September 1909. Advanced to Chief Water Tender on 1 October 1909, he continued to serve at sea until discharged in 1916.
The beginning of World War I, however, brought Chief King back on active duty; he served at New York until 20 August 1919.
He lived in retirement until his death on 20 May 1938.
[edit] Namesake
USS John King (DDG-3) was named for him.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
[edit] 1st Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Watertender, U.S. Navy. Born: 7 February 1865, Ireland. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 72, 6 December 1901. Second award.
Citation:
- On board the U.S.S. Vicksburg, for heroism in the line of his profession at the time of the accident to the boilers, 29 May 1901.
[edit] 2nd Medal of Honor
G.O. No.: 40, 19 October 1909.
Citation:
- Watertender, serving on board the U.S.S. Salem, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on the occasion of the accident to one of the boilers of that vessel, 13 September 1909.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- USS John King, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy.
