Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
Interim 1899 - 1910 - U.S. Navy
Charles Stephen Schepke
- Rank: Gunner's Mate First Class (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
For extraordinary heroism while serving on the U.S.S. Missouri in remaining by a burning magazine and assisting in extinguishing the fire, 13 April 1904.
- Accredited to: New York
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Presentation Date & Details: May 1904
Presented by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt
- Born: December 26, 1878, New York, NY, United States
- Died: February 27, 1933, Brooklyn, NY, United States
- Buried: The Lutheran Cemetery (5-9365), MiddleVillage, 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: Mons Monssen and Robert E. Cox.