Demetri Corahorgi

He entered a ruined boiler room to rescue his fellow sailors

Demetri Corahorgi, later known as Dan Corey, was born on 3 January 1880 and immigrated to the United States as a young man. He enlisted in the Navy at New York in April 1903. Work as a coal passer and fireman placed him in the demanding engineering spaces of steam-powered warships.

On 25 January 1905, while he was serving aboard USS Iowa in the Caribbean, the manhole plate of Boiler D blew out. Corahorgi helped rescue men endangered by the escaping steam and scalding water. His own legs were badly burned, requiring prolonged treatment. The Medal of Honor recognised his extraordinary heroism during the emergency; the award was announced in March 1905.

The injuries continued to affect his life. When his enlistment ended in 1907, he could not pass the medical examination for reenlistment. He instead worked as a civilian at the Puget Sound Navy Yard. In 1921 he left the yard and operated a photographic shop in Seattle. His civilian career and life in Washington continued long after his brief naval service.

Corahorgi died in Kirkland, Washington, on 15 October 1973, aged ninety-three, and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Seattle. His Medal of Honor is held by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

Official Medal of Honor citation:

Serving on board the U.S.S. Iowa for extraordinary heroism at the time of the blowing-out of the manhole plate of boiler D on board that vessel, 25 January 1905.