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★Victoria Cross

A comprehensive archive of decorated military heroes from Commonwealth, American, and allied traditions, ranked by the Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25). Honouring valour through history.

USM-25.2Scoring Standard

Scored under the Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25)

Patrick Francis Bresnahan — Victoria Cross

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Service Profile

Branch: U.S. Navy
Rank: Watertender
Medals Recorded: 1

Patrick Francis Bresnahan

Watertender, U.S. Navy

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Awards & Decorations

Medal of Honor

Ribbon Rack

Biography

He acted with heroism in a dangerous boiler emergency at sea

Patrick Francis Bresnahan was born on 1 May 1872 in Peabody, Massachusetts. He served as a watertender in the United States Navy aboard USS Iowa.

On 25 January 1905 at sea, a manhole plate blew out of the ship's boiler D. Bresnahan demonstrated extraordinary heroism during the emergency. His Medal of Honor was authorized under General Order No. 182 of 20 March 1905. A later presentation is recorded as 14 April 1921. The citation does not give further details of his individual response.

Bresnahan died on 29 January 1940 and is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts.

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.

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