John Dempsey | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1848 Ireland |
| Died | September 14, 1884 San Francisco, California, US |
| Place of burial | Greenlawn Memorial Park, Colma, California, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Rank | Seaman |
| Unit | USS Kearsarge |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
John Dempsey (c. 1848–1884), was an Irish-born American military officer, who served as a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Biography[edit]
Born in 1848 in Ireland, Dempsey immigrated to the United States and joined the U.S. Navy from Massachusetts. By January 23, 1875, he was serving as a seaman on the USS Kearsarge. On that day, while Kearsarge was at Shanghai, China, he jumped overboard and rescued a shipmate from drowning. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.[1]
Dempsey's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
On board the U.S.S. Kearsarge at Shanghai, China, 23 January 1875. Displaying gallant conduct, Dempsey jumped overboard from the Kearsarge and rescued from drowning one of the crew of that vessel.[1]
He died on September 14, 1884, in San Francisco. He was buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma, California.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 5, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
- ^ "John Dempsey; Interim 1871 - 1899". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
External links[edit]
- "John Dempsey". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved August 6, 2010.