(by Era)
*The medal recipients listed in this section were verified to have been chief petty officers at the time of the act which earned them the Medal of Honor. Those who had been or would later become chiefs were not included.
Although the word "chief" has appeared in many titles since the days of the Continental Navy, not all who bore these designations were chief petty officers. A "chief boatswain" for example, is a chief warrant officer. On the other hand, a similar title, "chief machinist", was a CPO. (The rating title was changed to "machinist's mate" in Navy General Order 178 in 1904).
Conversely, not all CPO ratings used the word 'chief" in the title. The Hospital Corps' chief petty officer title from 1898 until 1916 was "hospital steward".
The rate of chief petty officer was established on 1 April 1893. Prior to that date, there were no chief petty officers in the Navy. As such, personnel from 1775-1893 who bore titles that would later be applied to CPO ratings were not actual chief petty officers and thus were not included.
This is written in the context of more modern times (after 1920). The fact is because of the Civil War and other actions more individuals than not actually lived to receive their award.
Note: I wish to thank HMCM(FMF) Mark Hacala, CMC, National Naval Medical Center for pointing out some mistakes and one omission. Without his assistance the following information would not be as accurate as it now is. BTCS Wright
Glossary:
* posthumous award
NOR Place of action not on record
Register of Recipients:
BENNETT, James H. Chief Boatswain's Mate (Cienfuegos, Cuba)
BRADY, George F. Chief Gunner's Mate (Cardenas, Cuba)
COONEY, Thomas C. Chief Machinist (Cardenas, Cuba)
ITRICH, Franz A. Chief Carpenter's Mate (Manila, P.I.)
JOHNSEN, Hans Chief Machinist (Cardenas, Cuba)
MONTAGUE, Daniel Chief Master-at-Arms (Santiago, Cuba)
SUNDQUIST, Axel Chief Carpenter's Mate (Caimanera, Cuba)
SHANAHAN, Patrick Chief Boatswain's Mate (NOR)
CLANCY, Joseph Chief Boatswain's Mate (NOR)
HAMBERGER, William F. Chief Carpenter's Mate (NOR)
PETERSEN, Carl E. Chief Machinist (Peking)
BRADLEY, George Chief Gunner's Mate (Veracruz)
Due to the unique hazards associated with life at sea in the naval service, IE; fires in close confined spaces or magazines, men falling overboard, flooding, boiler explosions and the rescue of men from downed submarines, the navy was permitted to recommend the Medal of Honor on behalf of those who displayed personal heroism that was "above and beyond" during peace time operations. This changed in 1963 by an act of Congress which made it law that the Medal could only be awarded for heroism in combat. No Medal of Honor for peace time action has been awarded since 1940.
BONNEY, Robert E. Chief Watertender (NOR)
CLAUSEY, John J. Chief Gunner's Mate (San Diego, CA)
COX, Robert E. Chief Gunner's Mate (Pensacola, FL)
HOLTZ, August Chief Watertender (NOR)
JOHANNESSEN, Johannes J. Chief Watertender (NOR)
KLEIN, Robert Chief Carpenter's Mate (NOR)
MONSSEN, Mons Chief Gunner's Mate (NOR)
NORDSTROM, Isidor Chief Boatswains Mate (NOR)
REID, Patrick Chief Watertender (NOR)
SHACKLETTE, William S. Hospital Steward (San Diego, CA)
SNYDER, William E. Chief Electrician (Hampton Roads, VA)
STANTON, Thomas Chief Machinist Mate (NOR)
STOKES, John Chief Master-at-Arms (Jamaica)
WALSH, Michael Chief Machinist (NOR)
WESTA, Karl Chief Machinist Mate (NOR)
CRILLEY, Frank W. Chief Gunner's Mate (Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii)
* RUD, George W. Chief Machinist Mate (Santo Domingo)
SMITH, Eugene P. Chief Watertender (NOR)
MacKENZIE, John Chief Boatswain's Mate (NOR)
ORMSBEE, Francis E., Jr. Chief Machinist Mate (Pensacola, FL)
SCHMIDT, Oscar Jr. Chief Gunner's Mate (NOR)
BADDERS, William Chief Machinist Mate (Portsmouth, NH), As a note of interest, Chief Badders was already a Navy Cross recipient.
CRANDALL, Orson L. Chief Boatswain's Mate (Portsmouth, NH)
EADIE, Thomas Chief Gunner's Mate (Provincetown, Mass)
As a note of interest, Chief Eadie was already a Navy Cross recipient.
McDONALD, James H. Chief Metalsmith (Portsmouth, NH)
FINN, John W. "Then a CPO" (NAS, Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii)
* PETERSON, Oscar V. Chief Watertender (NOR)
* REEVES, Thomas J. Chief Radioman (Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii)
* TOMICH, Peter Chief Watertender (Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii)
Edward C. Byers Jr Master Chief Special Warfare Operator (Operation Enduring Freedom 2012) Citation
Britt K. Slabinski Master Chief Special Warfare Operator (Operation Anaconda 2002)) Citation
BRADY, George F. Chief Gunner's Mate (Ireland)
COONEY, Thomas C. Chief Machinist (Canada)
ITRICH, Franz A. Chief Carpenter's Mate (Germany)
JOHNSEN, Hans Chief Machinist(Norway)
MONTAGUE, Daniel Chief Master-at-Arms (Ireland)
SUNDQUIST, Axel Chief Carpenter's Mate (Russia)
SHANAHAN, Patrick Chief Boatswain's Mate (Ireland)
PETERSEN, Carl E. Chief Machinist (Germany)
JOHANNESSEN, Johannes J. Chief Watertender (Norway)
KLEIN, Robert Chief Carpenter's Mate (Germany)
MONSSEN, Mons Chief Gunner's Mate (Norway)
NORDSTROM, Isidor Chief Boatswains Mate (Sweden)
REID, Patrick Chief Watertender (Ireland)
STANTON, Thomas Chief Machinist Mate(Ireland)
WESTA, Karl Chief Machinist Mate(Norway)
EADIE, Thomas Chief Gunner's Mate (Scotland)
McDONALD, James H. Chief Metalsmith (Scotland)
* TOMICH, Peter Chief Watertender (Austria)
(by Home State)
BENNETT, James H. Chief Boatswain's Mate (New York)
CLANCY, Joseph Chief Boatswain's Mate (New York)
HAMBERGER, William F. Chief Carpenter's Mate (New Jersey)
BRADLEY, George Chief Gunner's Mate (Rhode Island)
BONNEY, Robert E. Chief Watertender (Tennessee)
CLAUSEY, John J. Chief Gunner's Mate (California)
COX, Robert E. Chief Gunner's Mate (West Virginia)
HOLTZ, August Chief Watertender (Missouri)
SNYDER, William E. Chief Electrician (Pennsylvania)
STOKES, John Chief Master-at-Arms (New York)
WALSH, Michael Chief Machinist (Rhode Island)
CRILLEY, Frank W. Chief Gunner's Mate (Pennsylvania)
* RUD, George W. Chief Machinist Mate (Minnesota)
SMITH, Eugene P. Chief Watertender (California)
MacKENZIE, John Chief Boatswain's Mate (Massachusetts)
ORMSBEE, Francis E., Jr. Chief Machinist Mate(Florida)
SCHMIDT, Oscar Jr. Chief Gunner's Mate (Pennsylvania)
BADDERS, William Chief Machinist Mate (Indiana)
CRANDALL, Orson L. Chief Boatswain's Mate (Connecticut)
FINN, John W. "then a CPO" (California)
* PETERSON, Oscar V. Chief Watertender (Wisconsin)
* REEVES, Thomas J. Chief Radioman (Connecticut)
SHACKLETTE, William S. Hospital Steward, (Virginia)