Adair County Biographies

Boatswain Osborn Warren Deignan, USN, (1877-1916)

Osborn Warren Deignan was born on 24 February 1877 in Stuart, Iowa. He enlisted in the US Navy from that state and served as a Coxwain on the collier Merrimac during the Spanish-American War. Phillips remained to serve as one of eight volunteer crew members when Rear Admiral William T. Sampson ordered her sunk to block the entrance of Santiago Harbor, Cuba. On the night of 2-3 June 1898, during the courageous attempt to execute this mission, Merrimac's steering gear was disabled by enemy gunfire, and she sank without obstructing navigation. Her crewmen were rescued by the Spanish and made prisoners-of-war. After the Battle of Santiago de Cuba destroyed the Spanish fleet a month later, Deignan and his shipmates were released. For his "extraordinary heroism" during this operation, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Deignan was promoted to the warrant officer rank of Boatswain on 9 April 1900. As an officer his initial assignments were in the Philippines, first at Manila, then at the Naval Station, Cavite. In June 1902, he reported for duty on USS Oregon and later in that year transferred to the receiving ship Independence, at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California. Boatswain Deignan was stationed at Navy Yard, Pensacola, Florida, in 1903-1904. Next assigned to the receiving ship Franklin, at Norfolk, Virginia, he remained there for less than a year before reporting for his last tour of duty on the monitor Amphitrite in April 1905. Boatswain Deignan retired on 21 April 1906 and thereafter resided in the Los Angeles, California area. Osborn W. Deignan died on 16 April 1916 in Cannon City, Colorado and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

Source: Department Of The Navy -- Naval Historical Center, http://www.history.navy.mil/