William Corry graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1910. He died of wounds suffered in an air crash in 1920, during which his efforts to save the pilot of the airplane earned him the Medal of Honor.
Sponsored by:
William
Merrill
Corry
, Jr.
DNB (1920)
October 5, 1889
–
October 6, 1920
Cemetery:
Eastern Cemetery
Awards Received
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Navy Cross
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Medal of Honor
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Navy Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Northern Bombing GroupAction Date:
World War I
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander William Merrill Corry, Jr., United States Navy, for distinguished and heroic service as an Airplane Pilot making many daring nights over the enemy’s lines, also for untiring and efficient efforts toward the organization of U.S. Naval Aviation, Foreign Service, and the building up of the Northern Bombing project.
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Medal of Honor
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderAction Date:
October 2, 1920
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander William Merrill Corry, Jr., United States Navy, for heroic service in attempting to rescue a brother officer from a flame-enveloped airplane near Hartford, Connecticut. On 2 October 1920, an airplane in which Lieutenant Commander Corry was a passenger crashed and burst into flames. He was thrown 30 feet clear of the plane and, though injured, rushed back to the burning machine and endeavored to release the pilot. In so doing he sustained serious burns, from which he died four days later.