DAVID M. PRINCE
A member of the Goldsboro Rifles, 30th Infantry Division, "Old Hickory Division." Went to France with the AEF and fought in the trenches. He was hurt by poison gas, but survived and returned home to Goldsboro, North Carolina.
He lost his life a short time later saving a child from a flooded river and received the Carnegie Medal.
David M. Prince was my great uncle.
Showing posts with label Carnegie Medal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carnegie Medal. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Friday, May 6, 2016
World War I's Lt. David M. Prince-- Part 2: Died Saving a Young Boy's Life
Lt. Prince returned to the United States in April 1919 and worked as a salesman for Smith Hardware in Goldsboro, N.C..
A few months later, he drowned in a flooded field near the junction of the Little and Neuse rivers near Goldsboro on July 26, 1919. He was trying to rescue Jefferson Merritt, age 12, Mr. Prince held the boy's head above the rampaging waters and saved him, but drowned in the process.
David Prince was posthumously awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism.
He is buried next to his parents at Goldsboro's Willow Dale Cemetery.
A few months later, he drowned in a flooded field near the junction of the Little and Neuse rivers near Goldsboro on July 26, 1919. He was trying to rescue Jefferson Merritt, age 12, Mr. Prince held the boy's head above the rampaging waters and saved him, but drowned in the process.
David Prince was posthumously awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism.
He is buried next to his parents at Goldsboro's Willow Dale Cemetery.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Carnegie Award for Heroism
I came across an article in the Feb. 12th Chicago Tribune about a teacher in Elfin, Illinois, Walter M. Gannon, who had received a Carnegie Medal in 2009 for saving the life of fellow teacher Carolyn Gilbert who was being attacked by a knife-wielding student in her class.
That reminded me that my great uncle, David M. Prince of Goldsboro, NC, had received one in 1919 for attempting to save the life of a child and lost his own life in the process.
He was 24 years old and had just recently returned from service with the Goldsboro Rifles in World War I. On July 26, 1919, torrential rains had turned the rivers and creeks around Goldsboro into flooding torrents.
A 12-year-old boy, T. Jefferson Merritt, was playing alongside Little River when he got swept into a flooded field. He cried for help and my uncle attempted to save him. He reached the boy, but became separated and ended up drowning. The boy was saved by others.
For his attempt, my great uncle received the Carnegie Medal for heroism.
My mother still has the medal and a picture of him in uniform. He is buried at Willowdale Cemetery in Goldsboro.
A Real Hero.
That reminded me that my great uncle, David M. Prince of Goldsboro, NC, had received one in 1919 for attempting to save the life of a child and lost his own life in the process.
He was 24 years old and had just recently returned from service with the Goldsboro Rifles in World War I. On July 26, 1919, torrential rains had turned the rivers and creeks around Goldsboro into flooding torrents.
A 12-year-old boy, T. Jefferson Merritt, was playing alongside Little River when he got swept into a flooded field. He cried for help and my uncle attempted to save him. He reached the boy, but became separated and ended up drowning. The boy was saved by others.
For his attempt, my great uncle received the Carnegie Medal for heroism.
My mother still has the medal and a picture of him in uniform. He is buried at Willowdale Cemetery in Goldsboro.
A Real Hero.
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