b. 05/07/1838 Kingdom of Hawaii. d. ?
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 12/04/1872 Greytown, Nicaragua.
Smith was born in 1838 in the Kingdom of Hawaii before it became part of the United States and after immigrating to the United States he joined the navy. His navy enlistment papers state that he was a “Sandwich Islander” (Hawaiian). He was stationed aboard the USS Kansas as a seaman when, on April 12, 1872, several members of the crew including the ship’s captain were drowning near Greytown, Nicaragua. For his actions received the Medal of Honor July 9, 1872.
Little is known about his life after the award of the Medal of Honor.
MOH CITATION:
Serving on board the U.S.S. Kansas, Smith displayed great coolness and self-possession at the time Comdr. A. F. Crosman and others were drowned near Greytown, Nicaragua, 12 April 1872, and by extraordinary heroism and personal exertion, prevented greater loss of life.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER, WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, WASHINGTON DC.