Died September 16, 1912 Battles and wars Spanish–American War Rank Petty officer third class | Name Ernest Bjorkman Allegiance United States of America | |
Born December 18, 1881Malmo, Sweden ( 1881-12-18 ) Place of burial Crown Hill Cemetery Wheat Ridge, Colorado, United States | ||
Ernest H. Bjorkman (December 18, 1881 – September 16, 1912) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
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Biography
Bjorkman was born December 18, 1881 in Malmo, Sweden and after immigrating to the United States joined the Navy. On January 21, 1903, he was serving as an ordinary seaman aboard the USS Leyden when it was returning from Puerto Rico and it foundered near Block Island in a heavy fog. For his actions during the wreck he received the Medal of Honor December 26, 1903.
He died on September 16, 1912 and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. His grave can be found in block 26, lot 122, space 9.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 25 April 1881, Malmo, Sweden. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 145, 26 December 1903.
Citation:
On board the U.S.S. Leyden, 21 January 1903, Bjorkman displayed heroism at the time of the wreck of that vessel.