Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
Interim 1899 - 1910 - U.S. Navy
Mons Monssen
- Rank: Chief Gunner's Mate (Highest Rank: Lieutenant)
- Conflict/Era: Interim 1899 - 1910
- Unit/Command:
U.S.S. Missouri - Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
- Medal of Honor Action Date: April 13, 1904
- Medal of Honor Action Place: U.S.S. Missouri at Sea, Caribbean Sea
Serving on board the U.S.S. Missouri, for extraordinary heroism in entering a burning magazine through the scuttle and endeavoring to extinguish the fire by throwing water with his hands until a hose was passed to him, 13 April 1904.
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Presentation Date & Details: May 1904
Presented by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt
- Born: January 20, 1867, Bergen, Norway
- Died: February 10, 1930
- Buried: Cypress Hills National Cemetery (MH) (OS-190), Brooklyn, NY, United States
Additional information is available in Navy General Order 43, dated April 14, 1921:
"The records of the department show that while at target practice off Pensacola, Fla., on April 13, 1904, an accident occurred in the after turret of the Missouri whereby the lives of 5 officers and 28 enlisted men were lost. That the ship was in immienent danger of destruction by explosion owing to the blazing fire in contact with the thin copper tanks containing smokeless powder in one of the 12-inch magazines. That by the prompt action of [Robert E.] Cox and two gunners mates the fire was brought under control and the loss of the Missouri, together with her crew, was averted."
The other two men mentioned above also received the Medal of Honor: Charles S. Schepke and Robert E. Cox.
