| Austin Joseph Durney | |
|---|---|
 Blacksmith Austin J. Durney | |
| Born | November 26, 1867 |
| Died | November 17, 1926 (aged 58) |
| Place of birth | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Place of death | Ridgely, Maryland |
| Place of burial | Old Saint Joseph Cemetery, Cordova, Maryland |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Rank | Blacksmith |
| Unit | USS Nashville (PG-7) |
| Battles/wars | Spanish-American War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Austin Joseph Durney (November 26, 1867 – November 17, 1926) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor.
Biography[]
Austin Durney was born on November 26, 1867 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from the state of Maryland and served during the Spanish-American War on board the gunboat USS Nashville (PG-7). On May 11, 1898 Blacksmith Durney was one of several men who participated in a boat expedition that cut the underwater telegraph cable off Cienfuegos, Cuba. For his "extraordinary bravery and coolness" under enemy fire during this operation, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Austin J. Durney died on November 17, 1926 at Ridgely, Maryland, and was buried in Old Saint Joseph Cemetery, Cordova, Maryland.
Medal of Honor citation[]
Rank and organization: Blacksmith, U.S. Navy. Born: November 26, 1867, Philadelphia, Pa. Entered service at: Woodland, Mo. G.O. No.: 521, July 7, 1899.
Citation:
On board the U.S.S. Nashville during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, May 11, 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Durney set an example of extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.
See also[]
References[]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Naval History & Heritage Command.
- "Austin J. Durney". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7101775. Retrieved 2006-08-09.
- Naval Historical Center (2006-03-23). "US People - Durney, Austin J.". Online Library. Archived from the original on 14 August 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060814000203/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-d/a-durne.htm. Retrieved 2006-08-09.
The original article can be found at Austin J. Durney and the edit history here.