b. 1853 Bangor, Maine. d. 28/11/1943 Winchester, Massachusetts.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 26/07/1876 Brooklyn, New York.
Born in 1853 in Bangor, Maine, Gidding joined the Navy from that state. By July 26, 1876, he was serving as a seaman on the USS Plymouth. On that day, while Plymouth was at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Gidding and another sailor, Landsman William Corey, attempted to rescue a crewmate who had fallen from the ship’s rigging into the water. For this action, both men were awarded the Medal of Honor two weeks later, on August 9. Another of Plymouth’s crew, Seaman Thomas Kersey, rescued a shipmate from drowning on the same day and also received the medal.
Nothing is known of him after he deserted from the Navy in September 1876.
MOH CITATION:
Serving on board the U.S.S. Plymouth, Gidding showed heroic conduct in trying to save the life of one of the crew of that ship, who had fallen overboard from aloft at the Navy Yard, New York, 26 July 1876.
BURIAL LOCATION: GROVE HILL CEMETERY, WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.
SECTION A LOT 13 GRAVE 35
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER, WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, WASHINGTON DC.
