William J. Creelman

William James Creelman (August 3, 1874 – March 24, 1928) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He was awarded the medal for jumping overboard during an 1897 winter storm in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue a shipmate from drowning. Creelman went on to become a commissioned officer before leaving the Navy.

William James Creelman
Born(1874-08-03)August 3, 1874
Brooklyn, New York
DiedMarch 24, 1928(1928-03-24) (aged 53)
Place of burial
Calvary Cemetery, New York City
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
RankLandsman
UnitUSS Maine
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

Born on August 3, 1874, in Brooklyn, New York, Creelman joined the Navy from that state. By February 1897, he was serving as a landsman on the USS Maine.[1]

On the morning of February 4, Maine set out from Hampton Roads, Virginia, for Charleston, South Carolina, as part of the six-ship "White Squadron". Later that evening a strong storm developed which lasted for several days. Early on February 6, a large wave broke over the deck of the ship and washed away two sailors, Apprentice Leonard C. Kogel and Gunner's Mate Charles Hassel.[2][3] After a lifebuoy was thrown to Hassel, Creelman jumped overboard into the rough seas and swam towards Kogel, but was unable to reach the apprentice before he sank beneath the waves. He then swam to Hassel and the two men clung to the lifebuoy as they were swept out of sight of Maine. Meanwhile, the ship's sailors put out a lifeboat which was quickly disabled after its steering oar was broken by the heavy waves. As Maine maneuvered to pick up the lifeboat and its crew, two more men were washed overboard and drowned. It was three and a half hours before the seas were calm enough for Maine to locate and take aboard Creelman and Hassel, still holding onto the lifebuoy and near exhaustion.[3][4] For this action, Creelman was awarded the Medal of Honor.[5]

Creelman's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Attached to the U.S.S. Maine, February 1897. Distinguishing himself, Creelman showed extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during an attempt to save life at sea.[5]

Creelman reached the commissioned officer rank of lieutenant before leaving the Navy. He died on March 24, 1928, at age 53 and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in New York City.[6]

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See also
  • List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime

References
  1. "William J. Creelman". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  2. "Men Lost From the Maine". The New York Times. New York. February 11, 1897. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  3. "The White Squadron's Trial by Storm". Illustrated American. New York: Illustrated American Pub. Co. 21 (12): 358. March 13, 1897. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  4. Daly, Edward Hamilton, ed. (1913). "Annual Banquet". Journal of the American-Irish Historical Society. New York: American-Irish Historical Society. 12: 74–6. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  5. "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor ritations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 5, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  6. "William J. Creelman". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. August 14, 2000. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
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