George W. Cutter

George W. Cutter
Born 1849
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Rank Landsman
Unit USS Powhatan
Awards Medal of Honor

George W. Cutter (born 1849, date of death unknown) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1849, Cutter joined the Navy from that state [1] in 1868. [2] By May 27, 1872, he was serving as a landsman on the USS Powhatan. On that day, while the ship was at Norfolk, Virginia, Seaman James Mitchell fell from Powhatan's rigging and landed in the water; he was rendered helpless in the fall. Cutter and two others, Second Assistant Engineer George Cowie and Ordinary Seaman Henry Couch, jumped overboard and saved Mitchell from drowning.[3] For this action, Cutter was awarded the Medal of Honor a month and a half later, on July 9.[1]

Cutter's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Powhatan, Norfolk, Va., 27 May 1872. Jumping overboard on this date, Cutter aided in saving one of the crew of that vessel from drowning.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  2. ↑ http://www.mohhsus.com/lost-to-history
  3. ↑ Bennett, Frank Marion (1897). The steam navy of the United States. Pittsburgh: Warren & Company. p. 602.
  • "George W. Cutter". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  • "George W. Cutter". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved July 27, 2010.


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