Johannes Rouning
United States Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient
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| Intro | United States Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient | ||
| Places | United States of America | ||
| is | Sailor | ||
| Gender |
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| Birth | May 1859 | ||
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The details
Biography
Johannes Rouning (or Ronning) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He was likely born in Norway in May 1859.
On May 7, 1882, Rouning was serving as an ordinary seaman on the USS Fortune at Hampton Roads, Virginia. On that day, he and another sailor, Seaman Christian Osepins, jumped overboard and rescued Gunner's Mate James Walters from drowning. For this action, both Rouning and Osepins were awarded the Medal of Honor two and a half years later, on October 18, 1884.
Rouning's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For jumping overboard from the U.S. Tug Fortune, 7 May 1882, at Hampton Roads, Va., and rescuing from drowning James Walters, gunner's mate.