The President of the United States
in the name of
The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
MacKENZlE, JOHN
Rank and Organization: Chief Boatswain's Mate,
U.S. Navy. Born: 7 July 1886, Bridgeport, Conn. Accredited to:
Massachusetts. G. O. No.: 391, 1918.
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism while serving on board the U.S.S. Remlik, on the morning of 17
December 1917, when the Remlik encountered a heavy gale. During this gale, there was a
heavy sea running. The depth charge box on the taffrail aft, containing a Sperry depth
charge, was washed overboard, the depth charge itself falling inboard and remaining on
deck. MacKenzie, on his own initiative, went aft and sat down on the depth charge, as it
was impracticable to carry it to safety until the ship was headed up into the sea. In
acting as he did, MacKenzie exposed his life and prevented a serious accident to the ship
and probable loss of the ship and the entire crew.
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