Michael Walsh (July 27, 1858 – June 29, 1913) was a chief machinist serving in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

who received the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

for bravery.

Biography

Walsh was born July 27, 1858, in

Swansea, Wales Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea (). The city is the twenty-eighth largest in the United Kingdom. Located along Swansea Bay i ...

. He arrived in New York aboard the ship ''Jeremiah Thompson'' on May 28, 1864. After joining the U.S. Navy he was stationed aboard the as a chief machinist. On January 21, 1903, the ''Leyden'' was wrecked. For his actions during the incident received the Medal of Honor on December 26, 1903. Walsh received the Medal of Honor (MOH) for heroism on a little vessel that became celebrated for the valuable service performed and the many fights and incidents in which it was present - the tugboat USS ''Leyden'', a vessel of only 500 tons. The tug was stationed at Key West, Florida, and, on April 22, 1898, delivered to Admiral William T. Sampson on board the armored cruiser USS ''New York'', the information that war was declared, and that he should proceed, with the fleet, to Cuba. The following morning, the fleet sailed with the ''Leyden'' following the ''New York''. After reaching Cuba, the ''Leyden'' was sent back to

Key West Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida, at the southern end of the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it con ...

and was outfitted with guns. Upon return to Cuba, the ''Leyden'' was used as one of the blockading squadrons on the Cuban coast. ''Leyden'' participated in many fights and captured several prizes. At the close of the war, ''Leyden'' was sent back to

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is a seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island, United States. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and nort ...

for repairs. Walsh received the Medal of Honor for a heroic deed by which the lives of the crew were saved. The little vessel that had passed through so many dangers during the Spanish War, and had so many fights, fell a victim to the wind, being wrecked January 21, 1903 on the rocks of Block Island, Rhode Island. During the storm and wreck, Walsh, instead of seeking his own safety, thought of only duty, and in the engine room closing the valves, releasing the main injecting valve, releasing the safety valve on the main boiler, he thus prevented an explosion. The life boats were all sunk by the heavy seas and the lives of the crew saved by being pulled ashore in a breeches buoy. Walsh was a member of the

United Spanish War Veterans The United Spanish War Veterans was an American veterans' organization which consisted of veterans of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War and China Relief Expedition. Origins Soon after the Spanish–American War ended, in early ...

. Walsh died on June 29, 1913.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Chief Machinist, U.S. Navy. Born: 27 July 1858, Newport, R.I. Accredited to: Rhode Island. G.O. No.: 145, 26 December 1903. Citation:

Serving on board the U.S.S. Leyden; for heroism at the time of the wreck of that vessel, 21 January 1903.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Michael 1858 births 1913 deaths United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients United States Navy sailors Military personnel from Newport, Rhode Island Machinists Non-combat recipients of the Medal of Honor American military personnel of the Spanish–American War

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References

External links