In 1867, Emil Fredreksen was born.\u00a0 In 1950, he died, aged 83.<\/p>\n
He died without known next of kin.\u00a0 After his death, he was buried – sans headstone and apparently without military honors – in Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.<\/p>\n
In between his birth and death, Fredreksen served in the US Navy.\u00a0 He was serving onboard the USS Bennington in 1905 \u2013 and was serving there in San Diego on 21 July.<\/p>\n
That day, a major explosion occurred onboard the USS Bennington.\u00a0 Of her crew of 179, the explosion killed 66 \u2013 and seriously wounded 46.\u00a0 Only 12 men from the crew were capable of performing their duties immediately after the explosion.<\/p>\n
Fredreksen was one of those 12.\u00a0 He engaged in rescue effots, repeatedly going below deck to search for wounded crewmembers and bring them to safety.<\/p>\n
For this, 11 men were awarded the Navy Medal of Honor (prior to World War I, award of the MoH was allowable for non-combat heroism).\u00a0 Fredreksen was one of those 11.<\/p>\n
Fast forward over 110 years.\u00a0 It turns out that member of the Medal of Honor Historical Society, Mr. Ray Johnston, researched Fredreksen’s case.\u00a0 Johnson located Fredreksen’s final resting place through pension records.<\/p>\n
Fredreksen\u2019s grave received full military honors – and proper marking\u00a0 as a Medal of Honor recipient – at 2PM local time yesterday.<\/p>\n