SIEGEL, JOHN OTTO - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization Boatswain's Mate Second Class, U.S. Navy. Born:
21 April 1890, Milwaukee, Wis. Accredited to: New Jersey. Citation: For
extraordinary heroism while serving on board the Mohawk in performing a
rescue mission aboard the schooner Hjeltenaes which was in flames on 1
November 1918. Going aboard the blazing vessel, Siegel rescued 2 men from
the crew's quarters and went back the third time. Immediately after he
had entered the crew's quarters, a steam pipe over the door bursted, making
it impossible for him to escape. Siegel was overcome with smoke and fell
to the deck, being finally rescued by some of the crew of the Mohawk who
carried him out and rendered first aid.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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