Daniel Montague (Medal of Honor recipient)

Infobox Military Person
name=Daniel Montague
born= birth date|1866|10|22 or 1867Records are inconsistent on Montague's year of birth. His Medal of Honor citation and his government-issued gravestone give his birth as 1867 (See [http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/warspain.html here] and third photo down [findagrave|7099022 Retrieved on 2008-08-19] ), while his personal gravestone gives his birth as 1866 (See second photo down [findagrave|7099022 Retrieved on 2008-08-19] ).]
died= February 4, death year and age|1912|1866
placeofbirth=Wicklow, Ireland
placeofdeath=
placeofburial= United States Naval Academy Cemetery


caption=Chief Boatswain Daniel Montague
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=
serviceyears=mid 1890s - 1912
rank=Chief Boatswain
commands=
unit=USS "New York" (ACR-2) USS "Merrimac" USS "Wisconsin" (BB-9) USS "Mohican" USS "Olympia" (C-6)
battles=Spanish-American War
awards=Medal of Honor
laterwork=

Daniel Montague (October 22, 1866 or 1867 – February 4, 1912) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Spanish-American War.

Military career

Daniel Montague enlisted in the Navy during the mid-1890s and served in USS "New York" (ACR-2) during the Spanish-American War as a Chief Master-at-Arms. He was one of eight volunteer crew members of the collier "Merrimac", which Rear Admiral William T. Sampson ordered sunk to block the entrance of Santiago Harbor, Cuba. On the night of 2-June 3, 1898, during the attempt to execute this mission, "Merrimac"'s steering gear was disabled by enemy gunfire, and she sank without obstructing navigation. Her crewmen were rescued by the Spanish and made prisoners-of-war. After the Battle of Santiago de Cuba destroyed the Spanish fleet a month later, Montague and his shipmates were released. For their actions during this operation, all eight men were awarded the Medal of Honor.

Montague was promoted to the warrant officer rank of Boatswain on June 15, 1898, while he was still in Spanish custody. His initial post-war assignment, to the training ship "Lancaster", lasted from August 1898 to late in 1901. He then reported for duty at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. In June 1903 Boatswain Montague reported on board the battleship "Wisconsin", serving as Asiatic Station flagship. Montague was promoted to Chief Boatswain in June 1904 and late in that year began service in the old steam sloop "Mohican" station ship at Olongapo, Philippines. In the summer of 1906 he was assigned duty at Naval Station, Pensacola, Florida, remaining there until the fall of 1909 when he was transferred to the Philadelphia Naval Yard, Pennsylvania. His last active assignment, in 1911-1912, was to the cruiser "Olympia" at Norfolk, Virginia, where she was being prepared for use as a barracks ship.

Daniel Montague died at age 44 or 45 and was buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, Maryland.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Chief Master-at-Arms, U.S. Navy. Born: October 22, 1867, Wicklow, Ireland. G.O. No.: 529, November 2, 1899.

Citation:

:In connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, June 2, 1898. Despite heavy fire from the Spanish batteries, Montague displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation.cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = War with Spain Medal of Honor Recipients
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = 2004-09-01
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/warspain.html
accessdate = 2006-12-02]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Spanish-American War

Notes

References

:NHC

*findagrave|7099022 Retrieved on 2006-12-02

*cite web
publisher = Naval Historical Center
title = US People - Montague, Daniel, Chief Boatswain
work = Online Library
date = 2006-05-03
url = http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-m/d-mtague.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-02

*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = War with Spain Medal of Honor Recipients
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = 2004-09-01
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/warspain.html
accessdate = 2006-12-02

Persondata
NAME= Montague, Daniel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=