b. 08/04/1887 Glasgow, Scotland. d. 14/11/1974 Brockton, Massachusetts.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 18/12/1927 Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Thomas Eadie MOH
Thomas Eadie was born on April 8, 1887 in Glasgow, Scotland. He enlisted in the United States Navy on July 6, 1905 and was eventually rated as a Gunner’s Mate and was also trained as a diver.
While serving as a Chief Gunner’s Mate in the 1920s, he assisted in salvage work on the sunken submarines USS S-51 and USS S-4, receiving the Navy Cross for each operation, and the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in rescuing a fellow diver on the S-4 on December 18, 1927. His Medal of Honor was presented on 23 February 1928 at The White House by President Calvin Coolidge.
Eadie retired from active duty on February 1, 1939. He returned to active service during World War II on April 30, 1942, receiving appointment as Chief Gunner (Warrant Officer). He was promoted to ensign on August 15, 1942 and to lieutenant on July 1, 1944. He retired with that rank in September 1946.
Thomas Eadie died at Brockton, Massachusetts, on November 14, 1974 and was buried in Island Cemetery annex in Newport, Rhode Island. There is a plaque in his honor at the First Presbyterian Church in Newport and Eadie Street in Newport is named after him.
MOH CITATION:
For display of extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession above and beyond the call of duty on 18 December 1927, during the diving operations in connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. S-4 with all on board, as a result of a collision off Provincetown, Mass. On this occasion when MICHELS, Chief Torpedoman, United States Navy, while attempting to connect an air line to the submarine at a depth of 102 feet became seriously fouled, EADIE, under the most adverse diving conditions, deliberately, knowingly and willingly took his own life in his hands by promptly descending to the rescue in response to the desperate need of his companion diver. After two hours of extremely dangerous and heartbreaking work, by his cool, calculating and skillful labors, he succeeded in his mission and brought MICHELS safely to the surface.
BURIAL LOCATION: ISLAND CEMETERY, NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
ANNEXE SECTION.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
