b. 1848 Ireland. d. 14/09/1884 San Francisco, California.
DATE OF MOH ACTION; 23/01/1875 Shanghai, China.
Born in 1848 in Ireland, Dempsey immigrated to the United States and joined the U.S. Navy from Massachusetts. By January 23, 1875, he was serving as a seaman on the USS Kearsarge. On that day, while Kearsarge was at Shanghai, China, he jumped overboard and rescued a shipmate from drowning. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
MOH CITATION:
On board the U.S.S. Kearsarge at Shanghai, China, 23 January 1875. Displaying gallant conduct, Dempsey jumped overboard from the Kearsarge and rescued from drowning one of the crew of that vessel.
BURIAL LOCATION: GREENLAWN MEMORIAL PARK, COLMA, CALIFORNIA.
ODDFELLOWS SECTION (MASS GRAVE).
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.