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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --
Fireman First Class Robert Penn, USN, (1872-1912)
Robert Penn was born at City Point, Virginia, on 10 October
1872 and later enlisted in the Navy from that state. During the
Spanish-American war, he was a crewman on USS Iowa.
On 20 July 1898, while the Iowa was operating off Santiago,
Cuba during the Spanish-American
War, he remained at his post during a fireroom accident. At
risk of serious scalding, he hauled the fire while standing on
a board a foot above the boiling water. For this act of heroism,
Robert Penn was awarded the Medal
of Honor. Robert Penn died on 8 June 1912 at Las Animas, Colorado.
This page features all the images we have concerning Fireman
First Class Robert Penn.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 79956
Robert Penn, Fireman Second Class, USN
Who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during a fireroom
accident aboard USS Iowa (BB-4) on 20 July 1898, during
the Spanish-American War.
Copied from Deeds of Valor, Volume II, page 404, published
in 1907 by the Perrien-Keydel Co., Detroit, Michigan.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 69KB; 510 x 765 pixels |
![](../../images/h79000/h79956t.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 103776
Fireman First Class Robert Penn
U.S. Navy Poster photographed in 1970. Robert Penn received the
Medal of Honor for heroism during a fireroom accident aboard
USS Iowa on 20 July 1898, during the Spanish-American
War.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
![](../../images/i03000/i03776t.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 79957
Robert Penn, Fireman Second Class, USN
"An explosion was averted by their quickness."
Halftoned artwork by Bacon, depicting Robert Penn's heroism during
a fireroom accident on board USS Iowa on 20 July 1898,
during the Spanish-American War. He received the Medal of Honor
for his actions in that incident.
Copied from Deeds of Valor, Volume II, page 405, published
in 1907 by the Perrien-Keydel Co., Detroit, Michigan.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 129KB; 500 x 765 pixels |
![](../../images/h79000/h79957t.jpg) |
Medal of Honor citation of Fireman First Class Robert Penn
(as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor,
1861-1949, The Navy", page 78):
"On board the U.S.S. Iowa off Santiago de Cuba,
20 July 1898. Performing his duty at the risk of serious scalding
at the time of the blowing out of the manhole gasket on board
the vessel, PENN hauled the fire while standing on a board thrown
across a coal bucket 1 foot above the boiling water which was
still blowing from the boiler." |
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Historical Center home page.
Page made 13 November 1998
New image added 28 April 2006