Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
Mexican Campaign (Vera Cruz) - U.S. Navy
Percy A Decker
- Rank: Boatswain's Mate Second Class (Highest Rank: Lieutenant)
- Conflict/Era: Mexican Campaign (Vera Cruz)
- Unit/Command:
U.S.S. Florida - Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
- Medal of Honor Action Date: April 21, 1914
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Vera Cruz, Mexico
On board the U.S.S. Florida during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 April 1914; for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico.
- Accredited to: New York
- Awarded Posthumously: No
- Presentation Date & Details: January 6, 1915
Presented by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on the deck of the USS Florida at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
- Born: August 4, 1890, New York, NY, United States
- Died: August 18, 1936
- Buried: Arlington National Cemetery (MH) (7-10302), Arlington, VA, United States
Additional information on his action comes from U.S. Navy General Order No. 101, dated June 15, 1914. Ensign G. M. Lowry called for volunteers to go into an alleyway between the customhouse and an open warehouse from which heavy fire was being directed. Five volunteers agreed to go. "On April 21, after Ensign G. M. Lowry, had called for volunteers, Decker took up a position in their rear about 10 yards. When Ensign Lowry stepped back to call the ambulance party to get Shumaker's body, a Mexican soldier who had been hiding behind the boxes in the open warehouse rose up and was aiming his piece at Ensign Lowry and the five volunteers, when Decker divered his attention to himself and shot him."