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|birth_date= {{Birth date|1870|8|11}}
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1870|8|11}}
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1901|6|30|1870|8|11}}
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1901|6|30|1870|8|11}}
|birth_place= [[Newark, New Jersey]]
|birth_place= [[Newark, New Jersey]], US
|death_place= [[Philippines]]
|death_place= Philippines
|placeofburial= Cypress Hills Cemetery [[Brooklyn, New York]]
|placeofburial= Cypress Hills Cemetery [[Brooklyn, New York]]
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
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|caption=
|caption=
|nickname=
|nickname=
|allegiance=[[United States|United States of America]]
|allegiance=United States
|branch= [[United States Navy]]
|branch= [[United States Navy]]
|serviceyears=
|serviceyears=
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== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Eilers was born August 11, 1870 in [[Newark, New Jersey]] and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1885.<ref name=navalregister>{{Cite news
Eilers was born August 11, 1870, in [[Newark, New Jersey]] and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1885.<ref name=navalregister>{{Cite news
|accessdate=September 29, 2010
|accessdate=September 29, 2010
|url= http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/reg-usn-e.htm
|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/reg-usn-e.htm
|work=Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-1900
|work=Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-1900
|title= US Navy Officers: 1798-1900 -- "E"; Eilers, Henry A. entry
|title=US Navy Officers: 1798-1900 -- "E"; Eilers, Henry A. entry
|date=April 21, 2006
|date=April 21, 2006
|publisher=[[Naval Historical Center]], [[United States Navy]]
|publisher=[[Naval Historical Center]], [[United States Navy]]
|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]
|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]
|archive-date=December 5, 2010
}}</ref> After joining the Navy he was stationed aboard the {{USS|Philadelphia|C-4}} as a gunner's mate. On September 17, 1892 the {{USS|Philadelphia|C-4|6}} was participating in a mock attack on [[Fort McHenry]], [[Baltimore, Maryland]] when a cartridge exploded prematurely. Hot embers blew down one of the ammunition chutes, nearly injuring three other members of the crew and causing others to run for their lives. Although the ammunition could have ignited at any time due to the hot embers Eilers risked his life to remain at his post in the magazine until all of the burning particles had been stamped out.
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205163749/http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/reg-usn-e.htm
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> After joining the Navy he was stationed aboard the {{USS|Philadelphia|C-4}} as a gunner's mate. On September 17, 1892, the {{USS|Philadelphia|C-4|6}} was participating in a mock attack on [[Fort McHenry]], [[Baltimore, Maryland]] when a cartridge exploded prematurely. Hot embers blew down one of the ammunition chutes, nearly injuring three other members of the crew and causing others to run for their lives. Although the ammunition could have ignited at any time due to the hot embers Eilers risked his life to remain at his post in the magazine until all of the burning particles had been stamped out.


For his actions Eilers received the Medal of Honor on November 22, 1892.<ref name=AMOHW>{{Cite web
For his actions Eilers received the Medal of Honor on November 22, 1892.<ref name=AMOHW>{{Cite web
|accessdate=September 29, 2010
|accessdate = September 29, 2010
|title = Interim Awards, 1871-1898; Eilers, Henry A. entry
|title = Interim Awards, 1871-1898; Eilers, Henry A. entry
|work =Medal of Honor recipients
|work = Medal of Honor recipients
|publisher= [[United States Army Center of Military History]]
|publisher = [[United States Army Center of Military History]]
|url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/int1871-98.html
|url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/int1871-98.html
|date = August 5, 2010
|date= August 5, 2010}}</ref><ref name=danfs>{{Cite web |accessdate= September 29, 2010|url= http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p6/philadelphia-iv.htm |work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships |title= Philadelphia |publisher=[[Naval Historical Center]]}}</ref>
|archive-date = May 14, 2017
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170514070318/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/int1871-98.html
|url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref name=danfs>{{Cite web |accessdate= September 29, 2010|url= http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p6/philadelphia-iv.htm |work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships |title= Philadelphia |publisher=[[Naval Historical Center]]}}</ref>


In addition to the Medal of Honor [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[Benjamin F. Tracy]] issued General Order number 404 directing that Eilers be promoted to the rank of acting gunner for “extraordinary heroism”.<ref name=promotion>{{Cite news |accessdate=September 29, 2010|url= http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0612FD345515738DDDA10A94D9415B8285F0D3 |work=Promoted for Gallant Conduct |title= Gunners’ Mate Eilers Meets With Merited Advancement |publisher=[[New York Times]] |format=pdf |date=November 28, 1892}}</ref> His date of rank as gunner was November 5, 1892.<ref>U.S. Navy Register. 1896. pg. 58.</ref>
In addition to the Medal of Honor [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[Benjamin F. Tracy]] issued General Order number 404 directing that Eilers be promoted to the rank of acting gunner for "extraordinary heroism".<ref name=promotion>{{Cite news |accessdate=September 29, 2010|url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1892/11/28/106893499.pdf |work=Promoted for Gallant Conduct |title= Gunners' Mate Eilers Meets With Merited Advancement |publisher=[[New York Times]] |date=November 28, 1892}}</ref> His date of rank as gunner was November 5, 1892.<ref>U.S. Navy Register. 1896. pg. 58.</ref>


He was assigned to the {{USS|Kentucky|BB-6}} on September 5, 1899<ref name=assignement>{{Cite book |accessdate=September 29, 2010
He was assigned to the {{USS|Kentucky|BB-6}} on September 5, 1899<ref name=assignement>{{Cite book |accessdate=September 29, 2010
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==Death and burial==
==Death and burial==
While serving aboard the ''Kentucky'' in the [[Philippines]] on June 30, 1901 Eilers died of [[heart disease]]. His body was returned to the United States in September 1901 and buried a few days later in Cypress Hills Cemetery [[Brooklyn, New York]].<ref name=findagrave>{{Find a Grave|49971423|work=Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients|author=Don Morfe|date= February 18, 2010|accessdate= March 20, 2010}}</ref> His grave can be found in section 6, lot 202B.<ref name=findagrave/><ref name=obituary>{{Cite news |accessdate=September 29, 2010|url= http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0C13FF355D1A728DDDA90B94D1405B818CF1D3 |work=Obituary |title= Funeral of Chief Gunner Eilers|date=September 29, 1901|publisher=[[New York Times]] |format=pdf}}</ref>
While serving aboard the ''Kentucky'' in the [[Philippines]] on June 30, 1901, Eilers died of [[heart disease]]. His body was returned to the United States in September 1901 and buried a few days later in Cypress Hills Cemetery [[Brooklyn, New York]].<ref name=obituary>{{Cite news |accessdate=September 29, 2010|url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1901/09/30/119081539.pdf |work=Obituary |title= Funeral of Chief Gunner Eilers|date=September 29, 1901|publisher=[[New York Times]] }}</ref>


== Medal of Honor citation ==
== Medal of Honor citation ==
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== See also ==
== See also ==
{{Portal|Biography|United States Navy}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime]]
* [[List of Medal of Honor recipients in non-combat incidents]]


== References ==
== References ==
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* {{Hall of Valor|1271|accessdate= September 29, 2010}}
* {{Hall of Valor|1271|accessdate= September 29, 2010}}
* {{Cite web
* {{Cite web
|accessdate= September 29, 2010
|accessdate=September 29, 2010
|url= http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h46000/h46715c.htm
|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h46000/h46715c.htm
|work=Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data
|work=Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data
|title= Photo #: NH 46715 (Complete Caption) USS Kentucky (BB-6)
|title=Photo #: NH 46715 (Complete Caption) USS Kentucky (BB-6)
|publisher=[[Naval Historical Center]]
|publisher=[[Naval Historical Center]]
|date=February 4, 1999
|date=February 4, 1999
|location=[[Washington Navy Yard]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
|location=[[Washington Navy Yard]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104143638/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h46000/h46715c.htm
|archivedate=November 4, 2012
}}
}}


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[[Category:United States Navy sailors]]
[[Category:United States Navy sailors]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:People from Newark, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Newark, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Burials in New York]]
[[Category:Non-combat recipients of the Medal of Honor]]
[[Category:Non-combat recipients of the Medal of Honor]]

Latest revision as of 10:31, 29 July 2024

Henry Anton Eilers
Born(1870-08-11)August 11, 1870
Newark, New Jersey, US
DiedJune 30, 1901(1901-06-30) (aged 30)
Philippines
Place of burial
Cypress Hills Cemetery Brooklyn, New York
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Navy
RankGunner's Mate
UnitUSS Philadelphia (C-4)
USS Kentucky (BB-6)
AwardsMedal of Honor

Henry Anton Eilers (August 11, 1870 – June 30, 1901) was a gunner's mate serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

Biography

[edit]

Eilers was born August 11, 1870, in Newark, New Jersey and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1885.[1] After joining the Navy he was stationed aboard the USS Philadelphia (C-4) as a gunner's mate. On September 17, 1892, the USS Philadelphia was participating in a mock attack on Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland when a cartridge exploded prematurely. Hot embers blew down one of the ammunition chutes, nearly injuring three other members of the crew and causing others to run for their lives. Although the ammunition could have ignited at any time due to the hot embers Eilers risked his life to remain at his post in the magazine until all of the burning particles had been stamped out.

For his actions Eilers received the Medal of Honor on November 22, 1892.[2][3]

In addition to the Medal of Honor Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F. Tracy issued General Order number 404 directing that Eilers be promoted to the rank of acting gunner for "extraordinary heroism".[4] His date of rank as gunner was November 5, 1892.[5]

He was assigned to the USS Kentucky (BB-6) on September 5, 1899[6] and was married sometime in the same year.

Death and burial

[edit]

While serving aboard the Kentucky in the Philippines on June 30, 1901, Eilers died of heart disease. His body was returned to the United States in September 1901 and buried a few days later in Cypress Hills Cemetery Brooklyn, New York.[7]

Medal of Honor citation

[edit]

Rank and organization: Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy. Born: 1871, Newark, N.J. Accredited to: New Jersey. G.O. No.: 404, 22 November 1892.

Citation:

On board the U.S.S. Philadelphia during the sham attack on Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Md., 17 September 1892. Displaying extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on this occasion, Eilers remained at his post in the magazine and stamped out the burning particles of a prematurely exploded cartridge which had blown down the chute.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "US Navy Officers: 1798-1900 -- "E"; Eilers, Henry A. entry". Officers of the Continental and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1775-1900. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, United States Navy. April 21, 2006. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Interim Awards, 1871-1898; Eilers, Henry A. entry". Medal of Honor recipients. United States Army Center of Military History. August 5, 2010. Archived from the original on May 14, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  3. ^ "Philadelphia". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval Historical Center. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  4. ^ "Gunners' Mate Eilers Meets With Merited Advancement" (PDF). Promoted for Gallant Conduct. New York Times. November 28, 1892. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  5. ^ U.S. Navy Register. 1896. pg. 58.
  6. ^ Gunners, Eilers, Henry A. entry. Washington, D.C.: United States Navy. January 1, 1900. p. 70. Retrieved September 29, 2010. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  7. ^ "Funeral of Chief Gunner Eilers" (PDF). Obituary. New York Times. September 29, 1901. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
[edit]