Richard Ryan (Medal of Honor)

Richard Ryan
Born 1851
Connecticut
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Rank Ordinary Seaman
Unit USS Hartford
Awards Medal of Honor

Richard Ryan (born 1851, date of death unknown) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Contents

Biography

Born in 1851 in Connecticut, Ryan joined the Navy from that state.[1] By March 4, 1876, he was serving as an ordinary seaman on the USS Hartford. On that morning, while Hartford was at Norfolk, Virginia, Landsman James Mullen fell from a gun port into the water. Mullen, who could not swim, was being swept away by a strong tidal current. Ryan jumped overboard, swam to the drowning crewman, and kept him afloat until they were rescued by the ship's launch. For this action, he received the Medal of Honor weeks later, on March 23.[2]

Ryan's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Serving on board the U.S.S. Hartford, Ryan displayed gallant conduct in jumping overboard at Norfolk, Va., and rescuing from drowning one of the crew of that vessel, 4 March 1876.[1]

See also

Biography portal
United States Navy portal

References

  1. ^ a b "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 5, 2010. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/int1871-98.html. Retrieved August 9, 2010. 
  2. ^ Robeson, George M.; S.B. Luce (March 23, 1876). "General Order, No. 207". General orders and circulars issued by the Navy Department (Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office) (1863–1887): 145. http://books.google.com/books?id=boAtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA145. Retrieved August 9, 2010. 

External links