James Benson

Seaman · U.S. Navy

U.S. Navy

20 June 1872 · USS Ossipee

Branch: U.S. Navy
Era: Peacetime and other actions
Action: USS Ossipee

The citation

Official citation

On board the U.S.S. Ossipee, 20 June 1872. Risking his life, Benson leaped into the sea while the ship was going at a speed of 4 knots and endeavored to save John K. Smith, landsman, of the same vessel, from drowning.

Sources

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