Peacetime Medal of Honor Recipient. He entered the United States Navy at Nashville, and served as Chief Petty Officer and Chief Watertender on board the “Bainbridge”-class destroyer “USS Hopkins” (DD-6). He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery on February 14, 1910, at San Diego, California, which his citation reading “He displayed extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on the occasion of an accident to one of the boilers of that vessel.”. In that accident, which was caused by a boiler plate being blown out, flames and steam filled the ship’s fireroom. Chief Watertender Bonney crawled under the steam, rescued a sailor who had been rendered unconscious, then returned to start the port blower, which cleared the room of the burning steam. He and fellow “Hopkins” crewmember and Watertender Edwin Alvin Clary were recommended for the Medal of Honor by their commanding officer, and they were awarded the Medal on March 23, 1910.
Peacetime Medal of Honor Recipient. He entered the United States Navy at Nashville, and served as Chief Petty Officer and Chief Watertender on board the “Bainbridge”-class destroyer “USS Hopkins” (DD-6). He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery on February 14, 1910, at San Diego, California, which his citation reading “He displayed extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on the occasion of an accident to one of the boilers of that vessel.”. In that accident, which was caused by a boiler plate being blown out, flames and steam filled the ship’s fireroom. Chief Watertender Bonney crawled under the steam, rescued a sailor who had been rendered unconscious, then returned to start the port blower, which cleared the room of the burning steam. He and fellow “Hopkins” crewmember and Watertender Edwin Alvin Clary were recommended for the Medal of Honor by their commanding officer, and they were awarded the Medal on March 23, 1910.
Bio by: RPD2
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