Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Torpedoman Second Class

    Division:

    U.S. Submarine 0-5

    Action Date:

    October 28, 1923

    War Department, General Orders No. 125, February 20, 1924

    The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Torpedoman Second Class Henry Breault, United States Navy, for heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the U.S. Submarine 0-5 at the time of the sinking of that vessel at Limon Bay, Panama Canal Zone. On the morning of 28 October 1923, the 0-5 collided with the steamship Abangarez and sank in less than a minute. When the collision occurred, Torpedoman Second Class 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 Brown remained trapped in this compartment until rescued by the salvage party 31 hours later.