Eugene P. Smith (August 8, 1871 – March 24, 1918) was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

Biography

Smith joined the Navy from

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and by September 9, 1915, was serving as a

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on the . On that day, the ''Decatur'' suffered an explosion of unknown cause and four compartments, including the ship's

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, were engulfed in flames. Despite heavy fumes of undetermined origin and the risk of further explosions, Smith and other sailors entered the compartments and rescued three gunner's mates. Smith was one of the first to enter the compartment in which the three men were trapped, and he returned "between five and eight times" while trying to locate them through the thick smoke. Finding one man, named Elkins, in the farthest corner of the chamber, Smith was partially overcome by the fumes and forced to retreat. After regaining his breath, he re-entered the compartment and saved Elkins. The commanding officer of the ''Decatur'' later stated that, of the crewmen, Smith "did most of all to save his shipmates." For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor five months later, on February 8, 1916. Smith died at age 46 and was buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in

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Medal of Honor citation

Smith's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Attached to U.S.S. ''Decatur''; for several times entering compartments on board of ''Decatur'' immediately following an explosion on board that vessel, 9 September 1915, and locating and rescuing injured shipmates.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Eugene P. 1871 births 1918 deaths United States Navy sailors United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients Military personnel from Illinois Non-combat recipients of the Medal of Honor

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References

External links