Thomas Cramen

He went overboard to save a shipmate at Washington Navy Yard

Thomas Cramen was a boatswain’s mate aboard USS Portsmouth. At the Washington Navy Yard on February 7, 1882, he jumped overboard and rescued Charles Taliaferro from drowning. His action earned the Medal of Honor for gallantry during peacetime naval service.

Born in Ireland in 1848, Cramen was accredited to Massachusetts. He died in Brooklyn, New York, on March 5, 1915, and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery there.

Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Portsmouth, Washington Navy Yard, 7 February 1882. Jumping overboard from that vessel, Cramen rescued Charles Taliaferro, jack-of-the-dust, from drowning.