John Morris (Medal of Honor)

John Morris (born January 25, 1855 or February 12, 1862[n 1] – ?) was a Corporal serving in the United States Marine Corps serving aboard the USS Lancaster (1858) who received the Medal of Honor for saving another sailor from drowning.

John Morris
BornJanuary 25, 1855 or February 12, 1862
Dublin, Ireland
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1880- 1895
RankCorporal
UnitUSS Lancaster (1858)
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

Morris was born between January 25, 1855 and February 12, 1862 in Dublin, Ireland[n 2] but immigrated to the United States. In November 1880 he joined the Marine Corps from Brooklyn, New York and was assigned to the marine contingent aboard the USS Lancaster. When the ship was at Villefranche, France, December 25, 1881 an ordinary seaman and prisoner named Robert Blizzard attempted to escape custody by jumping overboard. Corporal Morris jumped into the water afterwards to save Blizzard from drowning and for his actions he received the Medal of Honor October 18, 1884. Morris was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps April 20, 1895.[1][2]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 25 January 1855, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 326, 18 October 1884.

Citation:

For leaping overboard from the U.S. Flagship Lancaster, at Villefranche, France, 25 December 1881, and rescuing from drowning Robert Blizzard, ordinary seaman, a prisoner, who had jumped overboard.[1]

See also

Notes
  1. References differ to his birth date. The Marine Corps Who's Who site reflects it as February 12, 1862 and the Army Center of Military History, Military times Hall of Valor and the Find a Grave site reflect it as January 25, 1855)
  2. References differ to his birth location. The Marine Corps Who's Who site reflects it as Dublin, Ireland and the Army Center of Military History, Military times Hallofvalor and the Find a Grave site reflect it as New York City, New York

References
Inline
  1. "Morris, John entry". Medal of Honor recipients, Interim Awards, 1871-1898. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  2. "Private John Morris, USMC, (Deceased); Interim 1872-1881 Medal of Honor recipient". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps, History Division. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
General


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