World War I 1917 - 1918

MacKENZIE, JOHN

Rank and organization: Chief Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Navy. Born: 7

July 1886, Bridgeport, Conn. Accredited to: Massachusetts. G.O. No.:

391, 1918. Citation: For extraordinary heroism while serving on board

the U.S.S. REMLIK, on the morning of 17 December 1917, when the

REMLIK encountered a heavy gale. During this gale, there was a heavy

sea running. The depth charge box on the taffrail aft, containing a Sperry

depth charge, was washed overboard, the depth charge itself falling in-

board and remaining on deck. MacKenzie, on his own initiative, went aft

and sat down on the depth charge, as it was impracticable to carry it to

safety until the ship was headed up into the sea. In acting as he did, Mac-

Kenzie exposed his life and prevented a serious accident to the ship and

probable loss of the ship and the entire crew.

 

ORMSBEE, FRANCIS EDWARD Jr.

Rank and organization: Chief Machinist's Mate, U.S. Navy. Born: 30

April 1892, Providence, R.I. Accredited to: Florida. G.O. No.: 436, 1918

Citation: For extraordinary heroism while attached to the Naval

Air Station, Pensacola, Fla., on 25 September 1918. While flying with

Ens. J.A. Jova, Ormsbee saw a plane go into a tailspin and crash about

three-quarters of a mile to the right. Having landed near by,Ormsbee lost

no time in going overboard and made for the wreck, which was all under

water except the 2 wing tips. He succeeded in partially extricating the gunner

so that his head was out of the water, and held him in this position until the

speedboat arrived. Ormsbee then made a number of desperate attempts to

rescue the pilot, diving into the midst of the tangled wreckage although cut

about the hands, but was too late to save his life.

  

SCHMIDT, OSCAR Jr.

Rank and organization: Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy. Place and

date: At sea, 9 October 1918. Entered service at: Pennsylvania. Born:

25 March 1896, Philadelphia, Pa. G.O. No.: 450, 1919. Citation: For

gallant conduct and extraordinary heroism while attached to the U.S.S.

CHESTNUT HILL, on the occasion of the explosion and subsequent fire

on board the submarine chaser 219. Schmidt, seeing a man, whose legs

were partly blown off, hanging on a line from the bow of the 219, jumped

overboard, swam to the sub chaser and carried him from the bow to the

stern where a member of the 219's crew helped him land the man on the

afterdeck of the submarine. Schmidt then endeavored to pass through the

flames amidships to get another man who was seriously burned. This he

was unable to do, but when the injured man fell overboard and drifted to

the stern of the chaser Schmidt helped him aboard.

 

The Medal in Peacetime 1920 - 1940

BADDERS, WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Chief Machinist's Mate, U.S. Navy. Place and

date: At sea following sinking of the U.S.S. SQUALUS, 23 May 1939.

Entered service at: Indianapolis, Ind. Born: 16 September 1900, Harris-

burg, Ill. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Navy-Marine Corps Medal.

Citation: For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during

the rescue and salvage operations following the sinking of the U.S.S.

SQUALUS on 23 May 1939. During the rescue operations, Badders, as

senior member of the rescue chamber crew, made the last extremely haz-

ardous trip of the rescue chamber to attempt to rescue any possible sur-

vivors in the flooded after portion of the SQUALUS. He was fully aware

of the great danger involved in that if he and his assistant became incapa-

citated, there was no way in which either could be rescued. During the

salvage operations, Badders made important and difficult dives under the

most hazardous conditions. His outstanding performance of duty contri-

buted much to the success of the operations and characterizes conduct far

above and beyond the ordinary call of duty.

  

CRANDALL, ORSON L.

Rank and organization: Chief Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Navy. Place and

date: At sea following the sinking of U.S.S. SQUALUS, 23 May 1939.

Born: 2 February 1903, St. Joseph, Mo. Entered service at: Connecticut.

Citation: For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as a mas-

ter diver throughout the rescue and salvage operations following the sink-

ing of the U.S.S. SQUALUS on 23 May 1939. His leadership and devotion

to duty in directing diving operations and in making important and diffi-

cult dives under the most hazardous conditions characterize conduct far

above and beyond the ordinary call of duty.

 

EADIE, THOMAS

Rank and organization: Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy. Place and

date: Off Provincetown, Mass., 18 December 1927. Entered service at:

Rhode Island. Born: 7 April 1887, Scotland. Other Navy award: Navy

Cross. Citation: For display of extraordinary heroism in the line of his

profession above and beyond the call of duty on 18 December 1927, dur-

ing the diving operations in connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. S-4

with all on board, as a result of a collision off Provincetown, Mass. On

this occasion when Michels, Chief Torpedoman, U.S. Navy, while at-

tempting to connect an airline to the submarine at a depth of 102 feet be-

came seriously fouled, Eadie, under the most adverse diving conditions,

deliberately, knowingly, and willingly took his own life in his hands by

promptly descending to the rescue in response to the desperate need of his

companion diver. After 2 hours of extremely dangerous and heartbreak-

ing work, by his cool, calculating, and skillful labors, he succeeded in his

mission and brought Michels safely to the surface.

 

McDONALD, JAMES HARPER

Rank and organization: Chief Metalsmith, U.S. Navy. Place and date:

Area at sea of sinking of the U.S.S. SQUALUS, 23 May 1939. Entered

service at: Washington, D.C. Born: 15 July 1900, Scotland. Citation:

For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as a master diver

throughout the rescue and salvage operations following the sinking of the

U.S.S. SQUALUS on 23 May 1939. His leadership, masterly skill, gener-

al efficiency, and untiring devotion to duty in directing diving operations,

and in making important and difficult dives under the most hazardous

conditions, characterize conduct far above and beyond the ordinary call of

duty.