John McCarton

John McCarton
Born 1847
Brooklyn, New York
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Rank Ship's Printer
Unit USS New Hampshire
Awards Medal of Honor

John McCarton (born 1847, 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.

Biography

Born in 1847 in Brooklyn, New York, McCarton joined the Navy from that state. By January 4, 1882, he was serving as a ship's printer on the training ship USS New Hampshire. On that day, while New Hampshire was off Coaster's Harbor Island in Newport, Rhode Island, he and another sailor, Quartermaster Henry J. Manning, jumped overboard in an attempt to save Second Class Musician Jabez Smith from drowning. For this action, both McCarton and Manning were awarded the Medal of Honor three years later, on October 18, 1884.[1]

McCarton's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For jumping overboard from the U.S. Training Ship New Hampshire off Coasters Harbor Island, near Newport, R.l., 4 January 1882, and endeavoring to rescue Jabez Smith, second class musician, from drowning. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 5, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
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