William Johnson (Medal of Honor)

William Johnson (1855 – May 20, 1903) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.

William Johnson
Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Born1855
Saint Vincent
DiedMay 20, 1903 (aged 47–48)
Buried
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
RankCooper
UnitUSS Adams
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography edit

Willian Johnson was born in 1855 on Saint Vincent island in the West Indies.

On November 14, 1879, Johnson was serving as a Cooper on the steamship USS Adams at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, when he "rescued Daniel W. Kloppen, a workman, from drowning." For his actions on that occasion, Cooper Johnson was awarded the Medal of Honor five years later, on October 18, 1884.

Johnson died at age 47 or 48 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

Medal of Honor citation edit

Rank and organization: Cooper, U.S. Navy. Born: 1855, St. Vincent West Indies. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 326, October 18, 1884.

Citation

Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Adams at the Navy Yard, Mare Island, Calif., 14 November 1879, Johnson rescued Daniel W. Kloppen, a workman, from drowning.

See also edit

References edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
  • "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871-1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. 2003-10-03. Retrieved 2007-01-15.