William Sidney Shacklette

Burned in a shipboard disaster, he still helped the wounded.

William Sidney Shacklette was born on 17 May 1880 in Delaplane, Virginia. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1902 and served as a Hospital Steward aboard the gunboat USS Bennington.

On 21 July 1905, Bennington's boilers exploded in San Diego Harbor. While assisting injured sailors, Shacklette suffered a head injury and severe burns from scalding water. According to the U.S. Naval Institute's account, he resumed helping his shipmates and refused treatment at the hospital until the others had received care. His conduct in this peacetime disaster earned the Medal of Honor under General Order No. 13 of 5 January 1906.

His injuries led to an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1906. After theological studies, Shacklette returned to military duty as a U.S. Army chaplain during World War I. His precise Army rank and qualifying dates for campaign medals remain unconfirmed. He continued his ministry after the war.

Shacklette died on 12 February 1945 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 10, Grave 10688. Naval Medical Center Portsmouth later named Shacklette Hall in his honor. His story recalls a hospital steward who continued caring for others even as he needed urgent care himself.

Medal of Honor citation

For extraordinary heroism while serving on the U.S.S. Bennington at the time of the explosion of a boiler of that vessel at San Diego, Cal., 21 July 1905.