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James Thayer (Medal of Honor)

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James Thayer
Bornc. 1853
Ireland
DiedApril 16, 1886(1886-04-16) (aged 32–33) [1]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Place of burial
Old Cathedral Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Navy
RankShip's Corporal
UnitUSS Constitution
AwardsMedal of Honor

James Thayer (c. 1853–1886)[1] was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Born in about 1853 in Ireland, Thayer immigrated to the United States and joined the Navy from Pennsylvania. By November 16, 1879, he was serving as a ship's corporal on the USS Constitution. On that day, while Constitution was at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia, he rescued a young shipmate from drowning. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor five years later, on October 18, 1884.[2]

Thayer's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For rescuing from drowning a boy serving with him on the U.S.S. Constitution, at the Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va., 16 November 1879.[2]

He died on April 16, 1883, and was interred at Old Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b James Thayer at Find a Grave
  2. ^ a b "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 5, 2010. Archived from the original on May 14, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  3. ^ Longwell, Lance. "Old Cathedral Cemetery: Philadelphia Immigration Story". guidetophilly.com. LL-Squared LLC. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
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