Franz A. Itrich, Chief Carpenter's Mate, USN, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898. He was then serving aboard USS Petrel.
The heroism of Franz Anton Itrich, Chief Carpenter's Mate on the U.S.S. Petrel was recognized in a single, simple sentence..."Serving in the presence of the enemy, Itrich displayed heroism during the action." That description was far too brief to truly preserve for future generation the courage of this American sailor.
Born in Germany, Itrich was one of the many immigrants who chose to serve his adopted country in the latter part of the 19th century. During the 7-hour battle of Manila Bay, Itrich's ship the Petrel gave a solid accounting of itself. Itrich himself performed his duties coolly and professionally.
When the battle had ended and Admiral Dewey withdrew his ships to anchor abreast of Manila, the entire bay was awash with flaming wreckage and debris. Many of the Spanish ships, though reduced to hulks of twisted metal, still drifted dangerously on the swells of the bay. Of additional concern were the smaller gunboats, perhaps as many as twenty, hidden in the shallow coves and river inlets that spilled into Manila Bay. As the victorious fleet was pulled together to accept the the glorious moment of surrender at Manila, Admiral Dewey instructed Commander Wood of the Petrel to conduct the final sweep and destruction of the remnants of the Spanish fleet.
It was Franz Itrich who volunteered for the dangerous task. Captain Wood dispatched a whale boat with Itrich and seven men to board those enemy vessels still afloat and destroy them.
Slowly, carefully, Franz Itrich had his men row their small boat to each of the still burning enemy vessels. Itrich himself personally boarded each ship, braving flames and explosions to determine the best places both fore and aft to spread the fires that would send the floundering death-traps to the bottom of the bay. In each boarding there was always the potential for harm to himself from the flames and secondary explosions, perhaps even a very real danger of a one-on-one confrontation with an enemy who had remained behind or was wounded and unable to abandon ship. The cool, thorough manner in which Itrich completed his job resulted in the final destruction of Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Cuba, Isla de Luzon, Marquis del Duero, and Velasco. Upon boarding the transport Manila, Itrich found it to carry 350 tons of coal, 35 head of cattle, 45 barrels of wine, and a large supply of light artillery ammunition. Using good judgment, Itrich chose to spare this ship, which was later converted to an American gunboat.
For his service that day, Franz Itrich was commended by his captain, promoted to Carpenter, and given a gratuity of $100 from the Navy department. His actions were preserved for future generations in that one, simple sentence ....
Serving in the presence of the enemy, Itrich displayed heroism during the action."
They were the explanation for an even more prestigious recognition. Franz Anton Itrich became the first American to earn the Medal of Honor in the Spanish-American war.
