Charles H. Willey

Branch

U.S. Navy

Era

Peacetime and other actions

Home state

Massachusetts

Action

Off Santo Domingo City, Santo Domingo

The citation

Official citation

For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession while serving on board the U.S.S. Memphis, at a time when that vessel was suffering total destruction from a hurricane while anchored off Santo Domingo City, 29 August 1916. Machinist Willey took his station in the engineer's department and remained at his post of duty amidst scalding steam and the rush of thousands of tons of water into his department as long as the engines would turn, leaving only when ordered to leave. When the boilers exploded, he assisted in getting the men out of the fireroom and carrying them into the engineroom, where there was air instead of steam to breathe. Machinist Willey's conduct on this occasion was above and beyond the call of duty. Back to Campaign Index Top of page

Sources

• U.S. Army Medal of Honor citation index