Medal of Honor: G. W. Rud and C. H. Willey

GEORGE WILLIAM RUD

Chief Machinist's Mate, US Navy; USS Memphis (CA 10)

Born: 7 October 1883, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Died: 29 August 1916, Santo Domingo City, Santo Domingo

Citation: For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession while attached to the U.S.S. Memphis, at a time when that vessel was suffered total destruction from a hurricane while anchored off Santo Domingo City, 29 August 1916. C.M.M. Rud took his station in the engineroom and remained at his post amidst scalding steam and the rushing of thousands of tons of water into his department, receiving serious burns from which he immediately died.






CHARLES H WILLEY

Machinist, US Navy; USS Memphis (CA 10)

Born: 31 March 1889, East Boston, Massachusetts
Died: 11 September 1977, Concord, New Hampshire

Citation: For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession while serving on board the U.S.S. Memphis, at a time when that vessel was suffering total destruction from a hurricane while anchored off Santo Domingo City, 29 August 1916. Machinist Willey took his station in the engineer's department and remained at his post of duty amidst scalding steam and the rush of thousands of tons of water into his department as long as the engines would turn, leaving only when ordered to leave. When the boilers exploded, he assisted in getting the men out of the fireroom and carrying them into the engineroom, where there was air instead of steam to breathe. Machinist Willey's conduct on this occasion was above and beyond the call of duty.


Note: Lt Claud A Jones also received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Memphis's engine room.