Patrick McGunigal (May 30, 1876 – January 19, 1936) was a sailor in the

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 ...

who received 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. ...

for his actions during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

Biography

McGunigal was born in Hubbard, Ohio on May 30, 1876. He was assigned as a Ship's Fitter First Class on board the armored cruiser USS ''Huntington'' at the time of his Medal of Honor action (see below) in 1917. He was promoted to the

warrant officer Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ranks, the mos ...

rank of carpenter on July 20, 1918. He was subsequently assigned to the Naval Air Stations at Montauk and Rockaway Beach, New York. He retired from the Navy in December 1920. McGunigal retired from the Navy in December 1920 and died January 19, 1936. He is buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county is ...

. His grave can be found in section 6, lot 8674, map grid W/21.5.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Shipfitter First Class, U.S. Navy. Born: 30 May 1876, Hubbard, Ohio. Accredited to: Ohio. G.O. No.: 341, 1917. Citation:

For extraordinary heroism while attached to the '. On the morning of 17 September 1917, while the U.S.S. Huntington was passing through the war zone, a kite balloon was sent up with Lt. (j.g.) H. W. Hoyt, U.S. Navy, as observer. When the balloon was about 400 feet in the air, the temperature suddenly dropped, causing the balloon to descend about 200 feet, when it was struck by a squall. The balloon was hauled to the ship's side, but the basket trailed in the water and the pilot was submerged. McGunigal, with great daring, climbed down the side of the ship, jumped to the ropes leading to the basket, and cleared the tangle enough to get the pilot out of them. He then helped the pilot to get clear, put a bowline around him, and enabled him to be hauled to the deck. A bowline was lowered to McGunigal and he was taken safely aboard.

References

External links

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US People: Patrick McGunigal (1876-1936)
United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients United States Navy sailors United States Navy personnel of World War I Burials at Arlington National Cemetery People from Hubbard, Ohio 1876 births Military personnel from Ohio 1936 deaths World War I recipients of the Medal of Honor Non-combat recipients of the Medal of Honor {{US-navy-bio-stub

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References

External links