Submarine Force Museum Home of Historic Ship Nautilus
Submarine Force Medal of Honor Recipient
Torpedoman Second Class
Henry Breault USS O-5
"For heroism and devotion to duty while serving on board the U.S. Submarine O-5
at the time of the sinking of that vessel. On the morning of 28 October 1923,
the O-5 collided with the steamship Abangarez and sank in less than a
minute. When the collision occurred, Breault was in the torpedo room. Upon
reaching the hatch, he saw that the boat was rapidly sinking. Instead of jumping
overboard to save his own life, he returned to the torpedo room to the rescue of
a shipmate who he knew was trapped in the boat, closing the torpedo room hatch
on himself. Breault and Brown remained trapped in this compartment until rescued
by the salvage party 31 hours later."
Undersea Warfare Magazine "Submarine Hero" article.