Henry C. Courtney

Henry C. Courtney (b. 1856 - d. April 9, 1887) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Henry C. Courtney
Navy Medal of Honor
Born1856
Springfield, Illinois
DiedApril 9, 1887
Brooklyn, New York
Place of burial
Cypress Hills National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1873 - 1886
RankSeaman
UnitUSS Portsmouth
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

Born in 1856 in Springfield, Illinois, Courtney joined the Navy from that state in 1873. By February 7, 1882, he was serving as a seaman on the training ship USS Portsmouth. On that day, while Portsmouth was at the Washington Navy Yard, Courtney and another sailor, Boatswain's Mate Thomas Cramen, jumped overboard and rescued Jack-of-the-Dust Charles Taliaferro from drowning. For this action, both Courtney and Cramen were awarded the Medal of Honor two and a half years later, on October 18, 1884.[1] He left the Navy in 1886. [2]

Courtney's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

On board the U.S. Training Ship Portsmouth, Washington Navy Yard, 7 February 1882. Jumping overboard from that vessel, Courtney assisted in rescuing Charles Taliaferro, jack-of-the-dust, from drowning.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 5, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  2. http://www.mohhsus.com/lost-to-history
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