Medal of Honor: W. Ahern and A. Wilson

WILLIAM AHERN

Watertender, US Navy; USS Puritan (BM 1)

Born: 1861, Ireland
Died: Unknown

Citation: On board the U.S.S. Puritan at the time of the collapse of one of the crown sheets of boiler E of that vessel, 1 July 1897. Wrapped in wet cloths to protect his face and arms, Ahern entered the fireroom, crawled over the tops of the boilers and closed the auxiliary stop valve, disconnecting boiler E and removing the danger of disabling the other boilers.


Note: The New York Times articles of 6 Nov 1897 and 6 Feb 1898 describing this incident gave his name as William O'Hearn.



AUGUST WILSON

Boilermaker, US Navy; USS Puritan (BM 1)

Born: 1 March 1864, Danzig, Germany
Died: Unknown

Citation: For gallant conduct while serving on board the U.S.S. Puritan and at the time of the collapse of one of the crown sheets of boiler E on that vessel, 1 July 1897. Wrapping wet cloths about his face and arms, Wilson entered the fireroom and opened the safety valve, thus removing the danger of disabling the other boilers.


Note: The New York Times article of 6 Nov 1897 describing this incident gave his name as Augustus Wilson.