Congressional Medal of Honor Society

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World War I - U.S. Navy

Patrick McGunigal

Details
  • Rank: Shipfitter First Class (Highest Rank: Carpenter)
  • Conflict/Era: World War I
  • Unit/Command:
    U.S.S. Huntington
  • Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
  • Medal of Honor Action Date: September 17, 1917
  • Medal of Honor Action Place: at Sea
Citation

For extraordinary heroism while attached to the U.S.S. Huntington. On the morning of 17 September 1917, while the U.S.S. Huntington was passing through the war zone, a kite balloon was sent up with Lt. (j.g.) H.W. Hoyt, U.S. Navy, as observer. When the balloon was about 400 feet in the air, the temperature suddenly dropped, causing the balloon to descend about 200 feet, when it was struck by a squall. The balloon was hauled to the ship's side, but the basket trailed in the water and the pilot was submerged. McGunigal, with great daring, climbed down the side of the ship, jumped to the ropes leading to the basket, and cleared the tangle enough to get the pilot out of them. He then helped the pilot to get clear, put a bowline around him, and enabled him to be hauled to the deck. A bowline was lowered to McGunigal and he was taken safely aboard.

Medal of Honor Recipient Patrick McGunigal
Medal of Honor Recipient Patrick McGunigal
Additional Details
  • Accredited to: Ohio
  • Awarded Posthumously: No
  • Born: May 30, 1876, Hubbard, Trumbull County, OH, United States
  • Died: January 19, 1936
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery (MH) (6-8674), Arlington, VA, United States
From the CMOHS Archives

Some additional details are provided in Navy General Orders 341, dated November 7, 1917:

"On the morning of 17 September 1917, while the U.S.S. Huntington was passing through the war zone, a kite balloon was sent up with Lieut. (junior grade) Henry W. Hoyt, United States Navy, as observer. When the balloon was about 400 feet in the air, the temperature suddenly dropped, causing the balloon to descend about 200 feet, when it was struck by a squall. The nose of the balloon dipped downward into a long nose dive, and it started to roll over. The pilot was inside the basket and could not get out, due to the tangle of ropes overhead. Finally, the balloon was hauled to the ship's side but the basket trailed in the water and the pilot was submerged. McGunigal, with great daring, climbed down the side of the ship, jumped to the ropes leading to the basket, and cleared the tangle enough to get the pilot out of them, helped the pilot to get clear, put a bowline around him and he was hauled to the deck. A bowline was lowered to McGunigal and he was taken safely aboard. McGunigal's action in going to the rescue of this officer was an extraordinary exhibition of self-sacrifice as McGunigal well knew that if he failed there was no chance of himself being rescued."

 

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