MOH

Medal of Honor: Jesse Whitfield Covington - World War I Era - April 17, 1918

The sea was alive with fire, wreckage, and exploding powder boxes. He dove straight into it to save a man who could no longer save himself.

April 29, 2026

Name: Jesse Whitfield Covington
Rank: Ship’s Cook Third Class
Branch: U.S. Navy
Era: World War I
Unit: USS Stewart
Date of Action: April 17, 1918
Location: At sea aboard USS Stewart

Summary of Action

On 17 April 1918, Ship’s Cook Third Class Jesse Whitfield Covington distinguished himself following the internal explosion of the vessel Florence H.

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

Those powder boxes were repeatedly exploding, turning the water into a deadly field of fire and shrapnel.

Amid the chaos, a survivor was seen in the water.

The man was surrounded by exploding powder boxes and too exhausted to help himself.

Fully aware of the danger, Covington did not hesitate.

He plunged overboard from USS Stewart and swam into the hazardous wreckage field.

With explosions continuing around him, he reached the helpless survivor and rescued him.

His courage, disregard for personal safety, and determination to save another life reflected the highest traditions of the United States Navy.

Medal of Honor Citation

COVINGTON, JESSE WHITFIELD

Rank and organization: Ship’s Cook Third Class, U.S. Navy.
Place and date: At sea aboard the U.S.S. Stewart, 17 April 1918.
Entered service at: California.
Born: 16 September 1889, Haywood, Tenn.
G.O. No.: 403, 1918.

Citation:
For extraordinary heroism following internal explosion of the Florence H. The sea in the vicinity of wreckage was covered by a mass of boxes of smokeless powder, which were repeatedly exploding. Jesse W. Covington, 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 that similar powder boxes in the vicinity were continually exploding and that he was thereby risking his life in saving the life of this man.