User:Arthur goes shopping/sandbox1

Antonio Williams (1825–1908) was a seaman first class serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

Biography
Williams was born in 1825 in Malta and after emigrating to the United States he joined the United States Navy. He was stationed on the gunboat USS Huron (1875) when it departed Hampton Roads, Virginia November 23, 1877 and headed for Cuba on a scientific cruise. At approximately 1am on November 24, near Nags Head, North Carolina, the Huron ran aground in stormy weather. Initially the crew attempted to free the vessel but the ship heeled over, killing 98 of the crew; only 34 survived. Williams fought the storm, suffering injuries to his back, and succeeded in rescuing four men from the ocean after repeatedly returning to the waves. For his actions Williams received the Medal of Honor in 1879. Williams married an English woman, and they lived in the Fishponds area of Bristol. He died on the 22nd of July 1908 and is buried in Greenbank Cemetery, Bristol.

Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1825, Malta.

Citation:

"For courage and fidelity displayed in the loss of the U.S.S. Huron, 24 November 1877."