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Hugh King (Medal of Honor)

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Hugh King
Bornc. 1845
Ireland
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Navy
RankOrdinary Seaman
UnitUSS Iroquois
AwardsMedal of Honor

Hugh King (born c. 1845, date of death unknown) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

A native of Ireland, King immigrated to the United States and joined the Navy from New York in July 1871. [1] By September 7, 1871, he was serving as an ordinary seaman on the USS Iroquois. On that day, while Iroquois was in the Delaware River, he jumped overboard and rescued a shipmate from drowning. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor ten months later, on July 9, 1872.[2]

King's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Iroquois, Delaware River, 7 September 1871. Jumping overboard at the imminent risk of his life, King rescued one of the crew of that vessel from drowning.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lost to History » Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States".
  2. ^ a b "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on May 14, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
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