Robert Penn

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Penn
October 10, 1872(1872-10-10) – June 8, 1912 (aged 39)

Fireman First Class Robert Penn
Place of birth City Point, Virginia
Allegiance Flag of the United States United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Rank Fireman First Class
Unit USS Iowa (BB-4)
Battles/wars Spanish-American War
Awards Medal of Honor

Robert Penn (October 10, 1872–June 8, 1912 at Las Animas, Colorado) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Spanish-American War.

Contents

[edit] Biography

On July 20, 1898, Penn was serving as a Fireman First Class on the USS Iowa (BB-4) off the coast of Santiago de Cuba when a boiler accident occurred. For his actions during the incident, Penn was issued the Medal of Honor five months later, on December 14, 1898.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Fireman Penn's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Iowa off Santiago de Cuba, 20 July 1898. Performing his duty at the risk of serious scalding at the time of the blowing out of the manhole gasket on board the vessel, Penn hauled the fire while standing on a board thrown across a coal bucket 1 foot above the boiling water which was still blowing from the boiler.[1]

[edit] See also

United States Navy Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ War with Spain Medal of Honor Recipients. Medal of Honor Citations. U.S. Army Center of Military History (2004-09-01). Retrieved on 2007-01-22.

[edit] References