Thomas C. Cooney

He fought boiler flames aboard his vessel under enemy shells

Thomas C. Cooney earned the Medal of Honor aboard the torpedo boat Winslow at Cardenas, Cuba, on May 11, 1898. A chief machinist during the Spanish-American War, he acted after an enemy shell pierced the vessel’s boiler.

Cooney quickly extinguished the resulting flames, preventing the boiler tubes from burning out. His citation recognizes courage and prompt action in the damaged machinery space.

Born in Westport, Canada, on July 18, 1853, Cooney later attained the rank of chief carpenter. He died at the naval hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, on January 8, 1907, after being sent there from USS Florida. He is buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.

Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S. torpedo boat Winslow during the actions at Cardenas, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Following the piercing of the boiler by an enemy shell, Cooney, by his gallantry and promptness in extinguishing the resulting flames, saved the boiler tubes from burning out.