James A. Stewart (Medal of Honor)

James A. Stewart
Born 1839
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1868–1873
Rank Sergeant
Unit USS Plymouth
Awards Medal of Honor

James A. Stewart (born 1839, year of death unknown) was a United States Marine and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1839, Stewart joined the Marine Corps from Washington, D.C. on April 13, 1868.[1] By February 1, 1872, he was serving as a corporal on the USS Plymouth. On that day, while Plymouth was in the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, France, Stewart jumped overboard and rescued a midshipman named Osterhaus from drowning. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor eight months later, on October 10.[2] Stewart was discharged from the Marine Corps as a sergeant on July 11, 1873.[1]

Stewart's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Serving on board the U.S.S. Plymouth, Stewart jumped overboard in the harbor of Villefranche, France, 1 February 1872 and saved Midshipman Osterhaus from drowning.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Schuon, Karl (1963). U. S. Marine Corps biographical dictionary. New York: Franklin Watts. p. 215.
  2. 1 2 "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2010.

External links


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