William H. Belpitt

William Henry Belpitt (born May 3, 1860, date of death unknown) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

William Henry Belpitt
Born(1860-05-03)May 3, 1860
Ryde, New South Wales
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
RankCaptain of the Afterguard
UnitUSS Monocacy
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

Belpitt was born on May 3, 1859, in Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.[1] By October 7, 1884, he was serving in the U.S. Navy as Captain of the Afterguard on the USS Monocacy. On that morning, while Monocacy was at Fuzhou, China, he jumped overboard and rescued a Chinese man whose canoe had capsized. For this action, Belpitt was awarded the Medal of Honor.[2]

Belpitt's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Monocacy, Foochow, China, 7 October 1884. Jumping overboard from that vessel on the morning of this date, Belpitt sustained, until picked up, a Chinaman who had been thrown into the water by the capsizing of a canoe.[2]

Belpitt later returned to Australia, he died on 29 November 1912 at Rookwood, NSW and was buried at Rookwood Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria on 2 December 1912. [3]

See also

References
  1. "William H. Belpitt". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  2. "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1871–1898". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. August 5, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  3. "List by Alphabet ( A-E ) » Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States".


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