The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America

members of a helicopter crew from drowning on the reefs off Cape Beale, B.C., on the night of February 28, 1976. In a fine display of seamanship, Mr. Christney sailed his craft along the rugged shoreline, in driving snow and gale-force winds, to reach the3°~hermen. Two were found on a life raft, a th&d perched on the reefs. An American Coast Guard helicopter was called in to assist and airlifted the lone

fisherman from the rocks while the others boarded the lifeboat The helicopter, however, while returning to shore, ran out of fuel and then fell on the reefs. Mr. Christney and

Mr. Amos promptly answered the call for help and at great risk plucked the men from the aircraft moments before it was wrecked on the rocks. The victims were taken to shore and for several hours afterwards, the crew of Lifeboat 104, though cold and tired, searched vainly for the fourth fisherman."

"Medal of Bravery

AMOS, Robert Murray CHARLES, Clifford CHARLES, Martin

A~varded/Attribu6e 05/19/78

Coxswain David Christney, Robert Amos, Clifford Charles,

and his son Martin, all crew members on board Canadian

Coast Guard Lifeboat 104, saved three fishermen and three

members of a helicopter crecy from drowning on the reefs

off Cape Beale, B.C., on the night of February 28, 1976. In

a fine display of seamanship, Mr. Christney sailed his craft

along the rugged shoreline, in driving snow and gale-force

winds, to reach the fishermen. Two were found on a life

raft, a third perched on the reefs. An American Coast

Guard helicopter was called in to assist and airlifted the lone

fisherman from the rocks while the others boarded the

lifeboat The helicopter, however, while returning to shore,

ran out of fuel and then fell on the reefs. Mr. Christney and

Mr. Amos promptly answered the call for help attd at great

risk plucked the men from the aircraft moments before it

was wrecked on the rocks. The victims were taken to shore

and for several hours afterwards, the crew of the Lifeboat 104, though cold and tired, searched vainly for the fourth

fisherman."

David Charles Christney, S.C. suffered a back injury and was unable to continue service with the Canadian Coast Guard. His place as Coxswain of the Bamfield Coast Guard Station’s lifeboat was taken by Clifford Charles, M.B. Robert Murray Amos, M.B. and Martin Charles, M.B. are both deceased.

Opinion

A Dealer Replies to "Where Have All the Medals Gone?"(July-August 1999 issue)

It really is a shame that Mr. Tomarchio feels so badly

about medal collecting these days, but it seems that the

infection of greed, avarice, and lack of respect to which

he refers should not so readily be applied to others. From

all he writes, it was these very motivations that in some

part stimulated his interest in the first place. Now he

resents the fact that others have been caught doing

exactly the same as he did as a youngster 35 years ago -

looking for treasures at bargain prices - and beating him

at his own game!

Although I have never personally found much enjoyment in picking through the debris of past lives at flea markets, I do understand that once in a while a "bargain" might come to light in such an environment. However, it seems a little odd to blame "pickers" and "scruffy men" for changes in the medal and militaria market place. Surely every collector knows of the laws of "supply and demand" in this, the home of capitalist enterprise?

There is a very easy way to avoid paying "insulting"

prices, don’t buy! Find the object of your desire else-

where. For any "common" medal will, by definition, be

readily found elsewhere. Such is the discipline of the

market place, and ou,r hobby, however noble and

entrancing it may be to each of us is, in the last analysis,

subject to such discipline. If enough collectors refuse to

pay insulting prices, then a return to the good old days

can only be just below the horizon!

As for the Internet, this is a good tool whose use is very open to manipulation and difficulty. There is no doubt that it will influence to a major extent the manner and practice of business of all types. Even so, the hype and rhetoric advanced in the promotion of this latest "electronic marvel" should not be confused for substance. More time is need for this to be realized.

In every profession there are charlatans and crooks. Avoid them if possible. I would be very circumspect in buying at "flea" markets or militaria "shows." I have several customers who have lived to regret Internet purchases. Buyers should buy only from those who will stand by each and every sale. I do.

Robin Bates, OMSA No. 4559

29

Volume 50 Number 6

Rear Admiral O.W. Farenholt: Hero, Mustang

William M. Russo, OMSA No. 3558, LM No. 31

l fmd great pleasure researching the veteran behind tiae

edge-named U.S. campaign and service medals in my collection. One such medal is a Navy Civil War Campaign Medal engraved on the edge to O.W. FARENHOLT U.S.S. WABASH [174], CATSKILL,

OTSEGO, SHAWNEE. The story of the recipient of this medal is about a Navy war hero and the first U.S. Navy "mustang" to become an Admiral.1

Oscar William Farenholt was born on 2 May 1843 near San Antonio, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Seaman on 18 April 1861 and served on the frigate Wabash under then Flag Officer Samuel DuPont. During the early stages of the Civil War, Seaman Farenholt was in action at Fort Hatteras, North Carolina, Port Royal, South Carolina, and Fort Pulaski, Georgia. He also participated in many of the boat expeditions dispatched from the Wabash into South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. On 22 October 1862, Farenholt was severely wounded at the battle of Pocotaligo, South Carolina, where the Wabash was positioned with her four howitzers to cover the retreat of Federal forces. He was sent to the Naval Hospital in New York to recover from his wounds and was subsequently discharged from service.

Farenholt reenlisted into the Navy in February 1863 and was detailed to the monitor Catskill. While on the Catslall, he participated in all the engagements before Charleston, South Carolina, during 1863 and the spring of 1864. He was in the Catslall’s pilothouse at the side of Commander George W. Rodgers when Rodgers and Assistant Paymaster J.G. Woodbury were killed on 17 October 1863. Farenholt was also one of the Catskill’s crewmen who participated in the storming of Fort Sumter in September 1863.

He was appointed Acting Ensign in August 1864 and was placed in command of the ordnance schooner Henry James. Farenholt participated in the reoccupation of Plymouth, North Carolina, and in several engagements on the Chowan and Black Water Rivers and the capture of Fort Fisher, North Carolina. At the end of the war, he

1

"Mustang" is a term for an enlisted man who rose through the ranks

to become an officer.

Seaman Farenholt, December 1862

was ordered to the monitor Shawnee and duty at the Boston Navy Yard.

During the next six years, Farenholt served aboard the

Purveyor, Susquehanna, New Hampshire, Ohio, Idaho,

and Ashuelot. On 21 March 1868, Farenholt was commissioned an Ensign, to Master on 18 December

1868, and to Lieutenant on 21 March 1870. In May

1871, he was ordered to the Norfolk Navy Yard, and in

November of that year he took command of the steamer

Standish. Service followed on the Shenandoah, Relief, Minnesota, and Supply.

He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in June 1882

and served on the Portsmouth and the Swatara as its

Executive Officer and then returned to the Wabash until

taldng command of the Pinta. Promotion to Commander

30

The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America

Lieutenant Commander Farenholt in his cabin on the Pinta, circa 1892

followed in June 1892. Farenholt then served as a lighthouse inspector for the Thirteenth Naval District, Portland, Oregon, until he assumed command of the Monocacy in November 1898.

He was commissioned a Captain in October 1899 and

became Commandant of the Naval Station at Cavite, the Philippine Islands. Farenholt’s last command was the

Monadnock, which he assumed during December 1900.

Not long after, Farenholt was ordered home to a detached

position pending his retirement on 1 September 1901.

On his retirement date, Farenholt was commissioned a

Rear Admiral for the retired list, which made him the first former enlisted man to become an Admiral in the U.S. Navy without first attending the Naval Academy,

Rear Admiral Farenholt died on 20 June 1920 of bronchial pneumonia at the Naval Hospital on Mare Island, California. Farenholt was also awarded the Spanish Campaign Medal and the Philippine Campaign Medal. The whereabouts of the Spanish and Philippine

Campaign Medals are not known to the author, who would like to complete the group if possible.

Two destroyers have been named after Admiral Farenholt. The first, DD 332, was commissioned on 10 May 1921 and decommissioned on 20 February 1930. The second destroyer, DD 491, was commissioned on 2 April and earned eleven battle stars during World War II prior to being decommissioned on 26 April 1946.

Sources:

Dictionary of Admirals of the U.S. Navy, Volume 2, 1901-1918, Naval Institute Press

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships List of Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 1775 to

1890 National Archives and Records Administration General Reference

Branch (NNRG-P) Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, 1890 Records of Officers, U.S. Navy, National Archives, R.G. 2,~, Records

of the Bureau of Naval Personnel U.S. Naval Historical Photograph Center

31