John F. Auer was a sailor in the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 who was one of 193 people received the Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

 during peacetime, a practice no longer authorized by law, and one of only 3,449 recipients of the award.

Early life and naval service

Auer was born in 1866 in Nyack, New York

Nyack, New York

Nyack is a village in the towns of Orangetown and Clarkstown in Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of South Nyack; east of Central Nyack; south of Upper Nyack and west of the Hudson River, approximately 19 miles north of the Manhattan boundary, it is an inner suburb of New...

, the fifth of five children of Joseph Auer, a stable owner and harness maker. When he was sixteen years old, Auer joined the United States Navy because he wanted to see the world. After completing basic training he was assigned to the , the flagship of the European Squadron

European Squadron

The European Squadron, also known as the European Station, was a part of the United States Navy in the late 19th century and the early 1900s. The squadron was originally named the Mediterranean Squadron and renamed following the American Civil War...

 as a Seaman Apprentice

Seaman Apprentice

ConstructionmanvariationFiremanvariationAirmanvariationSeamaninsigniaSeaman apprentice is the second lowest enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above seaman recruit and below seaman; this rank was formerly known as seaman second class.The actual title for an E-2 in the U.S....

. On November 20, 1883, while the Lancaster was in port in Marseille, France, a young Frenchman who was on a stone pier astern of the Lancaster fell overboard, and disappeared below the water twice. Seeing him, and realizing that the boy could not swim, Auer jumped into the water together with Boatswain's Mate Matthew Gillick

Matthew Gillick

-External links:...

, and they were able to rescue the boy. For their heroism, both Auer and Gillick were awarded the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

' highest military decoration for gallantry, the Medal of Honor, on February 2, 1884. Before Seaman Auer left the Navy, the medal was stolen, though he wore the ribbon (and retained the citation) until his final years.

Later life

Auer served in the Navy for five years, after which he returned to his native Nyack. He worked as a letter carrier at Nyack's post office, and kept the same route for over twenty years. Auer died on May 28, 1951, and was survived by his two sons. He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Nyack. His grave can be found in section K, lot 139.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman Apprentice, U.S. Navy. Born: 1866, New York. Accredited to: New York.

Citation:

On board the U.S.S. Lancaster, Marseille, France, 20 November 1883. Jumping overboard, Auer rescued from drowning a French lad who had fallen into the sea from a stone pier astern of the ship.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime

External links