Patrick McGunigal

Warrant Officer, U.S. Navy

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War I

Warrant Officer Patrick McGunigal (30 May 1876 - 19 January 1936) was a U.S. Navy sailor who received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War I.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Shipfitter First Class, U.S. Navy.

Citation: For extraordinary heroism while attached to the Huntington. On the morning of 17 September 1917, while the U.S.S. Huntington was passing through the war zone, a kite balloon was sent up with Lt. (j.g.) H. W. Hoyt, U.S. Navy, as observer. When the balloon was about 400 feet in the air, the temperature suddenly dropped, causing the balloon to descend about 200 feet, when it was struck by a squall. The balloon was hauled to the ship's side, but the basket trailed in the water and the pilot was submerged. McGunigal, with great daring, climbed down the side of the ship, jumped to the ropes leading to the basket, and cleared the tangle enough to get the pilot out of them. He then helped the pilot to get clear, put a bowline around him, and enabled him to be hauled to the deck. A bowline was lowered to McGunigal and he was taken safely aboard.

Death and Burial

Warrant Officer Patrick McGunigal died on 19 January 1936. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 6, Lot 8674, Map Grid W/21.5.