Ludwig Andreas Olsen

He twice leapt into the sea to save shipmates from drowning.

Ludwig Andreas Olsen served in the United States Navy under the name Louis Williams, the name recorded on both of his Medals of Honor. Born in Christiana, now Oslo, Norway, in 1845, he served aboard USS Lackawanna and attained the enlisted rating of Captain of the Hold. This was a shipboard enlisted position, not a commissioned captain's rank.

On 16 March 1883, while Lackawanna was at Honolulu, Williams jumped overboard and rescued landsman Thomas Moran from drowning. The action earned his first Medal of Honor. It was a peacetime rescue rather than a battle engagement.

On 13 June 1884, at Callao, Peru, William Cruise fell overboard from the same ship. Williams again entered the water and saved a shipmate. This second lifesaving action earned a separate Medal of Honor. The two awards belong to the same sailor, although his original name and naval service name appear in different historical accounts.

Williams died in Brooklyn, New York, on 20 February 1886 and was buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetery. His two citations record repeated lifesaving service aboard Lackawanna.

Medal of Honor citation, first award: For jumping overboard from the U.S.S. Lackawanna, 16 March 1883, at Honolulu, T.H., and rescuing from drowning Thomas Moran, landsman.

Medal of Honor citation, second award: Serving on board the U.S.S. Lackawanna, Williams rescued from drowning William Cruise, who had fallen overboard at Callao Peru, 13 June 1884.