Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
Spanish-American War - U.S. Navy
Robert Penn
Details
- Rank: Fireman First Class
- Conflict/Era: Spanish-American War
- Unit/Command:
U.S.S. Iowa - Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
- Medal of Honor Action Date: July 20, 1898
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Citation
On board the U.S.S. Iowa off Santiago de Cuba, 20 July 1898. Performing his duty at the risk of serious scalding at the time of the blowing-out of the manhole gasket on board the vessel, Penn hauled the fire while standing on a board thrown across a coal bucket one foot above the boiling water which was still blowing from the boiler.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: Virginia
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Born: October 10, 1872, City Point (now Hopewell), Prince George County, VA, United States
- Died: June 8, 1912, Las Animas, CO, United States
- Buried: Eden Cemetery (MoH), Collingdale, Delaware County, PA, United States