John MacKenzie (sailor)

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John MacKenzie
July 7, 1886 (1886-07-07) – December 26, 1933 (aged 47)
John MacKenzie, wearing his Medal of Honor
Place of birth	Bridgeport, Connecticut
Place of death	Holyoke, Massachusetts
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Naval Reserve
Years of service	1902-1907, 1917
Rank	Chief Boatswain's Mate
Unit	USS Remlik (SP-157)
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Medal of Honor

John MacKenzie (7 July 1886 – 26 December 1933) was a sailor in the United States Naval Reserve and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

1 Biography
2 Medal of Honor citation
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Biography

Born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, MacKenzie enlisted in the Navy at Springfield, Massachusetts, on 20 December 1902 and had attained the rate of Coxswain before his discharge on 6 July 1907. He engaged in the auto accessory business in Springfield, but reenlisted in the Navy in 1917, when the United States entered World War I.

While serving on board USS Remlik (SP-157) during a storm in the Bay of Biscay, MacKenzie observed a depth charge adrift on the ship's after deck. At great risk to his life, he took prompt and effective action to secure the explosive weapon, thus preventing the "probable loss of the ship and the entire crew". For his heroism on that occasion, Chief Boatswain's Mate John MacKenzie was awarded the Medal of Honor.

After the end of the First World War, John MacKenzie returned to civilian life and subsequently entered the restaurant business. He died at Holyoke, Massachusetts, on 26 December 1933, at the age of 47 years.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

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.