John King

John King (7 February 1865 – 20 May 1938) was an Irish sailor in the United States Navy and one of only 19 in history to receive the Medal of Honor twice. Biography Born in the village of Currabee, near Ballinrobe (then in County Galway, now County Mayo), Ireland, King was allegedly involved in an incident at Cornmarket Ballinrobe, a result of which he was being sought by the R.I.C. (Royal Irish Constabulary). He walked 18 miles to Tuam County Galway and took the train, rather than going from Ballinrobe railway station, eventually arriving in then Queenstown, now Cobh County Cork. He then worked for his passage to the USA. King later enlisted in the Navy as a coal passer in Vermont on 20 July 1893. He served on board in the Caribbean during the Spanish–American War, and, in 1900, was transferred to for service during the Philippine–American War. King received his first Medal of Honor while in Vicksburg "for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession at the time of the accident to the boilers... May 29, 1901." Eight years later, while a watertender on the , King received a second Medal of Honor during another boiler explosion on 13 September 1909. Advanced to chief watertender on 1 October 1909, he continued to serve at sea until discharged in 1916. The beginning of World War I, however, brought Chief King back on active duty; he served in New York until 20 August 1919.