Charles H. Willey

Charles Henry Willey
Born	March 31, 1889(1889-03-31) East Boston, Massachusetts
Died	September 11, 1977(1977-09-11) (aged 88) Concord, New Hampshire
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Rank	Machinist
Unit	USS Memphis
Battles/wars	peacetime award
Awards	Medal of Honor

Charles Henry Willey (March 31, 1889 – September 11, 1977)^[1] was a United States Navy Machinist received the Medal of Honor for actions during the tsunami that wrecked USS Memphis. Machinist Willey was awarded the medal for this action along with Lieutenant Claud Ashton Jones and Chief Machinist's Mate George William Rud.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Machinist, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Off Santo Domingo City, Santo Domingo, August 29, 1916. Entered service at: Massachusetts. Born: March 31, 1889, East Boston, Mass. G.O. No.: --August 1, 1932.

Citation:

For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession while serving on board the U.S.S. Memphis, at a time when that vessel was suffering total destruction from a tsunami while anchored off Santo Domingo City, 29 August 1916. Machinist Willey took his station in the engineer's department and remained at his post of duty amidst scalding steam and the rush of thousands of tons of water into his department as long as the engines would turn, leaving only when ordered to leave. When the boilers exploded, he assisted in getting the men out of the fire room and carrying them into the engine room, where there was air instead of steam to breathe. Machinist Willey's conduct on this occasion was above and beyond the call of duty.

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Navy portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients during Peacetime

References

1. ^ "Charles H. Willey". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7144616. Retrieved September 6, 2010. 

• "Citation". Home of Heroes. http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_peace/willey_charles.html. Retrieved September 27, 2010. 
• "Gravsite". Home of Heroes. http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/states/pages_pz/willey_charles.html. Retrieved September 27, 2010. 

Persondata
Name	Willey, Charles H.
Alternative names
Short description	United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient
Date of birth	March 31, 1889
Place of birth	East Boston, Massachusetts
Date of death	September 11, 1977
Place of death	Concord, New Hampshire