The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
McGUNIGAL, PATRICK
Rank and Organization: Shipfitter First Class,
U.S. Navy. Born: 30 May 1876, Hubbard, Ohio. Accredited to: Ohio. G. O.
No.: 341, 1917.
Citation:
For extraordinary heroism while attached to the Huntington. On the morning of 17 September
1917, while the U.S.S. Huntington was passing through the war zone, a kite balloon was
sent up with Lt. (j.g.) H. W. Hoyt, U.S. Navy, as observer. When the balloon was about 400
feet in the air, the temperature suddenly dropped, causing the balloon to descend about
200 feet, when it was struck by a squall. The balloon was hauled to the ship's side, but
the basket trailed in the water and the pilot was submerged. McGunigal, with great daring,
climbed down the side of the ship, jumped to the ropes leading to the basket, and cleared
the tangle enough to get the pilot out of them. He then helped the pilot to get clear, put
a bowline around him, and enabled him to be hauled to the deck. A bowline was lowered to
McGunigal and he was taken safely aboard.
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