|
Congressional
Medal of Honor Winner
Henry Breault
TM2
Since 10-03-01
Henry Breault TM2, April
4, 1924
|
For
heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the U.S. Submarine
O-5 at the time of the sinking of that vessel. On the morning of 28
October 1923, the O-5 collided with the steamship Abangarez and sank in
less than a minute. When the collision occurred, Breault was in the
torpedo room.
Upon
reaching the hatch, he saw that the boat was rapidly sinking. Instead of
jumping overboard to save his own life, he returned to the torpedo room
to the rescue of a shipmate whom he knew was trapped in the boat,
closing the torpedo room hatch on himself. Breault and Chief
Electrician’s Mate Lawrence T. Brown remained trapped in this
compartment until rescued by the salvage party 31 hours later.
|
Salvage of the USS O-5 off Panama 31 hours
after sinking. Breault and Brown are seen exiting the submarines
forward hatch which has just slipped back under water. All but 3 of
the crew were saved.
USS O-5 SS 66
On April 4, 1924 President of the United
States Calvin Coolidge, presented the Congressional Medal Of Honor to
Torpeomans Mate 2 Henry Breault in a ceremony on the White House lawn.
This
appeared in the Dec 10th 1941 issue of
the local paper in Putnam, CT
Local Man
Dies at Naval Hospital
Seaman
Henry Breault, who has a Distinguished Record During 20 Years in the
U.S. Navy, Was
Decorated For Heroism When His Submarine Sank in the Panama Canal
Henry
Breault, nephew of Albert J. Breault, in whose honor the local V.F.W
post was named, died last Thursday in the United States Naval
Hospital in Newport at the age of 41. Breault had served for
20 years with the United States Navy and four years with the British
Navy. And distinguished himself as a hero at the time of the sinking
of the Submarine O-5 in the Panama Canal in 1923.
Breault had been suffering from a heart ailment for over a year.
Although the Naval Department planned to retire him because of his
health, at the Putnam man¹s request, he was allowed to continue on
active service until he became seriously ill and was admitted to the
Newport Hospital.
Born in Putnam on October 14th, 1900, he was the son of Joseph and
Flora Breault. When he was 16 years old he joined the British
Navy and served a term of four years and later enlisted in the U.S.
Navy and served for 20 years.
When the Submarine O-5 was rammed in the Panamal Canal and sank,
quick action on the part of Breault in clamping shut the hatch as
the boat began to submerge saved the lives of all but three of the
members of the crew.
The vessel
was brought to the surface 36 hours after the accident.
Breault was decorated for his valor by President Coolidge.
Besides his father, Joseph Breault of White Plains. N.Y., he is
survived by two sisters, Mrs. Estelle Bickford of Riverhead, L.I.
and Beatrice Breault of Yonkers, N.Y.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 9:00 o¹clock at St.
Mary¹s Church with Rev. Chrles H. Parquette officiating. A
military burial was afford Breault at the grave in St. Mary
Cemetery. As the body was lowered into the grave, taps were
sounded by Armand Lebeau, one of the members of the V.F.W. post.
The berrers were Frank X. Vadnais, Antonio Foreier, and Fred St.
Onge. Rev. John P. Wodardski officiated at the committal
service
|
