Albert Joseph Smith

Private · U.S. Marine Corps

U.S. Marine Corps

11 February 1921 · Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida

Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Era: Peacetime and other actions
Home state: Michigan
Action: Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida

The citation

Official citation

At about 7:30 a.m. on the morning of 11 February 1921, Pvt. Smith, while on duty as a sentry, rescued Plen M. Phelps, late machinist's mate second class, U.S. Navy, from a burning seaplane which had fallen near his post, gate No. 1, Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. Despite the explosion of the gravity gasoline tank, with total disregard of personal safety, he pushed himself to a position where he could reach Phelps, who was pinned beneath the burning wreckage, and rescued him from the burning plane, in the performance of which he sustained painful burns about the head, neck and both hands. Back to Campaign Index Top of page

Sources

U.S. Army Medal of Honor citation index
Wikipedia. Linked only. The article text is not copied here.