Sinnett, Lawrence Clinton, CMM

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Mexican Campaign For heroism April 21, 1914 at Vera Cruz, Mexico

 Citation:

On board the U.S.S. Florida, Sinnett showed extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 April 1914.

In an effort to force out General Victoriano Huerta, who had seized the presidency of Mexico in a bloody coup d' etat, President Woodrow Wilson sent three Navy vessels to Vera Cruz under the command of Rear Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher. On the morning of April 21 nearly 1,500 American combat troops were put ashore, and that night another 1,500 reinforcements landed. By noon on April 22nd the American forces had taken control of the city. In the two day action Fletcher lost 17 men killed, 63 wounded. The Mexicans had nearly 800 dead or wounded. Seaman Lawrence Sinnett of the U.S.S. Florida was one of 55 men awarded the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz."
Though the United States occupied Vera Cruz for seven months following the initial landing, the men who landed at Vera Cruz on April 21 - 22 accomplished their mission in two days, and returned to their vessels within the same week.