John Johnson (Medal of Honor, 1839)

Keeping calm in a disaster, he helped prevent more drownings

John Johnson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1839. He served in the United States Navy as a seaman aboard USS Kansas. The ship’s duties took it to Greytown, Nicaragua, where naval surveying and boat operations exposed sailors to dangerous conditions around the harbour entrance.

On 12 April 1872, Commander A. F. Crosman and other men were drowned near Greytown. Johnson’s conduct during the disaster prevented further loss of life. The Navy recognised his composure, courage and personal exertion in the emergency with the Medal of Honor, issued on 9 July 1872.

His decoration belongs to the Navy’s nineteenth-century recognition of exceptional courage outside battle. The action took place during peacetime service in Central America and is remembered alongside the efforts of other men of the Kansas crew in the same disaster.

The Navy’s published record of Medal of Honor recipients preserves his name, birthplace, ship and the date of the action. His intervention during the emergency remains the central documented event of his naval career.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Serving on board the U.S.S. Kansas, near Greytown, Nicaragua, 12 April 1872, Johnson displayed great coolness and self-possession at the time Comdr. A.F. Crosman and others were drowned and, by extraordinary heroism and personal exertion, prevented greater loss of life.