Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
Interim 1871 - 1899 - U.S. Navy
John Hayden
Details
- Rank: Apprentice
- Conflict/Era: Interim 1871 - 1899
- Unit/Command:
U.S. Training Ship Saratoga - Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
- Medal of Honor Action Date: July 15, 1879
- Medal of Honor Action Place: off The Battery, New York Harbor, New York, USA
Citation
On board the U.S. training ship Saratoga. On the morning of 15 July 1879, while the Saratoga was anchored off The Battery, in New York Harbor, R.L. Robey, apprentice, fell overboard. As the tide was running strong ebb, the man, not being an expert swimmer, was in danger of drowning. David M. Buchanan, apprentice, instantly, without removing any of his clothing, jumped after him. Stripping himself, Hayden stood coolly watching the two in the water, and when he thought his services were required, he made a dive from the rail and came up alongside them and rendered assistance until all three were picked up by a boat from the ship.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: Washington, District of Columbia
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Born: 1863, Washington, DC, United States
- Died: 1934, CA, United States
- Buried: San Francisco National Cemetery, San Francisco, CA, United States