Medal of Honor: Frank Monroe Upton – World War I – April 17, 1918

Name: Frank Monroe Upton
Rank: Quartermaster
Branch: U.S. Navy
War: World War I
Unit: USS Stewart
Date of Action: April 17, 1918
Location: At sea

Summary of Action

On 17 April 1918, Quartermaster Frank Monroe Upton was serving aboard the USS Stewart when the ship responded after the internal explosion of the Florence H.

The sea surrounding the wreck was covered with debris and floating boxes of smokeless powder.

Those powder boxes were repeatedly exploding, making the rescue scene extraordinarily dangerous.

Among the wreckage was a survivor trapped in the midst of the floating explosives.

Exhausted and unable to help himself, the man faced almost certain death.

Knowing the danger and fully aware that the powder boxes around the survivor continued to detonate, Upton chose to act.

He plunged overboard from the USS Stewart and entered the deadly water.

Risking his own life at every moment, he swam through the exploding debris to reach the helpless man and bring him to safety.

His courage and selfless devotion reflected extraordinary heroism and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

UPTON, FRANK MONROE

For extraordinary heroism following internal explosion of the Florence H, on 17 April 1918. The sea in the vicinity of wreckage was covered by a mass of boxes of smokeless powder, which were repeatedly exploding. Frank M. Upton, of the U.S.S. Stewart, plunged overboard to rescue a survivor who was surrounded by powder boxes and too exhausted to help himself. Fully realizing the danger from continual explosion of similar powder boxes in the vicinity, he risked his life to save the life of this man.