Patrick McGunigal (May 30, 1876 – January 19, 1936) was a sailor 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 his actions during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

Biography

McGunigal was born in

Hubbard, Ohio Hubbard is a city in southeastern Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. It is formed from part of Hubbard Township, which was formed from the Connecticut Western Reserve. The population was 7,636 at the 2020 census. It is a suburb in the You ...

on May 30, 1876, and joined the Navy in 1894. 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 Military rank, 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 ...

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 died on January 19, 1936, and was buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

. 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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NHHC Biography
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