zwiebel
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A forgotten US Navy hero and Civil War vet has been honored again - in England.
"He won just about the highest American honour that there is and he lies virtually forgotten in an obscure grave in one of Bristol's biggest cemeteries."
Antonio Williams, Seaman, joined the Navy at 15 in NY. He was originally From Spain, or Malta. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for the courage he showed in the sinking of USS Huron off the coast of NC in 1877.
'Referencing a letter sent to Seaman Williams by the Secretary of the Navy, it says: "You [Antonio Williams] gave up whatever chance of life a foothold upon the wrecked vessel offered, by taking to sea...in the attempt to carry a line to the shore for the relief of your ship-mates.'
Williams did survive though, and eventually moved to Bristol, England, where a local historian Steve Lovell found his forgotten grave and set about discovering his story.
Heroic Seaman Williams' grave has now been restored by caring locals, and rehonored in a ceremony whose guests included the US Embassy's Naval Attache.
Read the story, it's great. It even has part of a newspaper interview with Williams from 1899 at the link too.
"He won just about the highest American honour that there is and he lies virtually forgotten in an obscure grave in one of Bristol's biggest cemeteries."
Antonio Williams, Seaman, joined the Navy at 15 in NY. He was originally From Spain, or Malta. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for the courage he showed in the sinking of USS Huron off the coast of NC in 1877.
'Referencing a letter sent to Seaman Williams by the Secretary of the Navy, it says: "You [Antonio Williams] gave up whatever chance of life a foothold upon the wrecked vessel offered, by taking to sea...in the attempt to carry a line to the shore for the relief of your ship-mates.'
Williams did survive though, and eventually moved to Bristol, England, where a local historian Steve Lovell found his forgotten grave and set about discovering his story.
Heroic Seaman Williams' grave has now been restored by caring locals, and rehonored in a ceremony whose guests included the US Embassy's Naval Attache.
Read the story, it's great. It even has part of a newspaper interview with Williams from 1899 at the link too.
