Robert Earl Bonney

Robert Earl Bonney
Born November 23, 1882
Tennessee
Died November 22, 1967 (aged 84)
Place of burial Acacia Memorial Park, Seattle, Washington
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Rank Chief Machinist
Unit USS Hopkins (DD-6)
Awards Medal of Honor

Robert Earl Bonney (November 23, 1882 – November 22, 1967) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Biography

A native of Tennessee, Bonney joined the Navy from Nashville. By February 14, 1910, he was serving as a chief watertender on the USS Hopkins (DD-6). On that day, the Hopkins experienced a boiler accident. For their actions during the incident, Bonney and another sailor, Watertender Edward Alvin Clary, were awarded the Medal of Honor.[1]

Bonney's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

While serving on board the U.S.S. Hopkins, Bonney displayed extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on the occasion of the accident to one of the boilers of that vessel, 14 February 1910.[1]

Bonney reached the warrant officer rank of chief machinist before leaving the Navy. He died on November 22, 1967, one day before his 85th birthday, and was buried at Acacia Memorial Park in Seattle, Washington.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1901-1911". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  2. "Robert Earl Bonney". Find a Grave. November 10, 2003. Retrieved May 8, 2010.