WWI MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT JOHN OTTO SIEGEL AT MOUNT MERCY CEMETERY GARY INDIANA

World War I Metal of Honor Recipient. He was issued the award for his actions as a US Navy boatswain's mate second class assigned to the Navy tugboat USS Mowhawk (YT-17) on November 1, 1918 at the Norfolk Navy Shipyard, Virginia. He immigrated to the US from Germany with his family as a young boy and enlisted in the US Navy in May 1909. He served aboard several US Navy vessels, including the USS Constellation, the transport USS Hancock, the battleship USS Virginia, the frigate USS Franklin, and the battleship USS North Dakota. In 1915 he was court-martialed for desertion and was dishonorably discharged, but was allowed to reenlist in December 1917. On that day, while assigned to the USS Mohawk, he risked his like by boarding the schooner Hjeltenaes while it was on fire and rescuing two men before he became trapped and overcome with smoke before being rescued. For his gallantry, he was awarded the Tiffany Cross Medal of Honor He was discharged from the US Navy in October 1920 He died from lung cancer at the age of 51. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For extraordinary heroism while serving on board the Mohawk in performing a rescue mission aboard the schooner Hjeltenaes which was in flames on 1 November 1918. Going aboard the blazing vessel, Siegel rescued two men from the crew's quarters and went back the third time. Immediately after he had entered the crew's quarters, a steam pipe over the door burst, making it impossible for him to escape. Siegel was overcome with smoke and fell to the deck, being finally rescued by some of the crew of the Mohawk who carried him out and rendered first aid."