Richard Bates (Medal of Honor)

Richard Bates
Born 1829
Wales
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Rank Seaman
Unit USS De Soto
Awards Medal of Honor

Richard Bates (born 1829, 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.

A native of Wales, Bates immigrated to the U.S. and joined the Navy from the state of New York. By May 10, 1866, he was serving as a seaman on the USS De Soto. On that day, while the De Soto was off the coast of Eastport, Maine, he and two shipmates rescued two sailors from the USS Winooski from drowning. For this action, he and his shipmates, Captain of the Afterguard John Brown and Seaman Thomas Burke, were awarded the Medal of Honor three months later, on August 1.[1][2]

Bates' official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For heroic conduct in rescuing from drowning James Rose and John Russell, seamen of the U.S.S. Winooski, off Eastport, Maine, 10 May 1866.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Medal of Honor recipients – Interim Awards, 1866–1870". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  2. ↑ Record of Medals of Honor issued to the Bluejackets and Marines of the United States Navy 1862–1910. Bureau of Navigation. 1910. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-4437-7612-7.
  • "Richard Bates". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  • "Richard Bates". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
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