| William Morse | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1852 Germany |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Rank | Seaman |
| Unit | USS Shenandoah |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
William Morse (born 1852, 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 |
Born in 1852 in Germany, Morse immigrated to the United States and joined the Navy from New York. By September 19, 1880, he was serving as a seaman on the USS Shenandoah. On that day, while Shenandoah was at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he and Seaman John Smith jumped overboard and rescued First Class Fireman James Grady from drowning. For this action, both Morse and Smith were awarded the Medal of Honor four years later, on October 18, 1884.[1]
Morse's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
or jumping overboard from the U.S.S. Shenandoah at Rio de Janeiro Brazil, 19 September 1880, and rescuing from drowning James Grady, first class fireman.[1]