Henry C. Courtney | |
|---|---|
 Navy Medal of Honor | |
| Born | 1856 Springfield, Illinois |
| Died | April 9, 1887 Brooklyn, New York |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1873 - 1886 |
| Rank | Seaman |
| Unit | USS Portsmouth |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
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.
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]
The second USS Portsmouth was a wooden sloop-of-war in the United States Navy in service during the mid-to-late 19th century. She was designed by Josiah Barker on the lines of a French-built privateer, and built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, directly across the Piscataqua River from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She was described as an improvement over USS Saratoga built in the same shipyard a year earlier. Portsmouth was launched on 23 October 1843 and commissioned on 10 November 1844, with Commander John Berrien Montgomery in command.
Harry Delmar Fadden was a sailor in the United States Navy who received the United States military's highest award for bravery, the Medal of Honor.
George Holt was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Thomas Lakin (1840–?) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Michael Deneef (1851–1891) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
John Handran (1852-1885) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Edward Maddin was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
William Corey was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Charles J. Gidding or Giddings (1853–1943) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
James Francis O'Conner was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
William Sweeney was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
William Lowell Hill was a United States Navy officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He was awarded the medal as an enlisted sailor for rescuing a drowning shipmate in 1881. Hill went on to serve in the Spanish–American War and reached the warrant officer rank of chief boatswain. His lifelong Navy career finished with his command of two prison ships at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Henry J. Manning was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
John McCarton (1847–1887) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Francis Moore was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Thomas Cramen was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
James F. Sullivan (1857–1917) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Johannes Rouning was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He was likely born in Norway in May 1859.
Christian Osepins (1858–1887) was a Dutch-born United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
J. W. Norris was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
