John Henry Helms

Rescuing a ship’s cook from drowning at Montevideo

John Henry Helms earned the Medal of Honor at Montevideo, Uruguay, on 10 January 1901. A Marine sergeant serving aboard USS Chicago, he rescued the ship’s cook, Ishi Tomizi, from drowning. The award recognizes a successful life-saving action during naval service outside combat. The concise official citation identifies the rescued man and the incident’s location and date, but does not describe the rescue technique or the circumstances that brought Tomizi into the water.

Medal of Honor citation

Serving on board the U.S.S. Chicago, for heroism in rescuing Ishi Tomizi, ship's cook, from drowning at Montevideo, Uruguay, 10 January 1901.