John Enright (July 2, 1864 – February 19, 1898) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

John Enright
Navy Medal of Honor
Born(1864-07-02)July 2, 1864
Lynn, Massachusetts
DiedFebruary 19, 1898(1898-02-19) (aged 33)
Place of burial
At sea
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1885 to 1889
RankLandsman
UnitUSS Ranger
USS Dolphin (PG-24)
USS Trenton (1876)
USS Nipsic
USS Albatross (1882)
Awards Medal of Honor

Biography edit

Born on July 2, 1864, in Lynn, Massachusetts, Enright joined the Navy from that state.[1][2] By January 18, 1886, he was serving as a landsman on the USS Ranger. On that day, while Ranger was off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico, he jumped overboard and rescued two fellow sailors, Ordinary Seamen John Bell and George Svensson, from drowning. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.[1]

Enright's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Ranger off Ensenada, Mexico, 18 January 1886. Jumping overboard from that vessel, Enright rescued John Bell, ordinary seaman, and George Svensson, ordinary seaman, from drowning.[1]

Enright was honorably discharged from the Navy on May 21, 1889. He died at age 33 on February 19, 1898, and was buried at sea. A marker in his memory was placed at Phoenix Memorial Park in Phoenix, Arizona.[3]

 
Grave marker of John Enright

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 5, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  2. ^ "John Enright". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  3. ^ Waymarking.com