If George Freeth was indeed presented with the Gold Lifesaving Medal in 1910, why does he not appear on this list?
Gold Lifesaving Medal Awardees
[Unfortunately, it seems the Coast Guard has taken down this list altogether. At least I cannot find it today, 5/7/2018.]
[Mystery solved! George Freeth was not presented with a Congressional Gold Medal after all; what he was instead presented with was a Gold Lifesaving Medal.
If you look at the original image in the newspaper, you can at least make out, “….STAT… OF AMERICA.” on the top, and on the bottom, “ACT OF CONGRESS JUNE 20, 187…” With that information, the Lifesaving Medal was easy to find.
This is not the best image, but it is still better than what can be found online or on the microfilms. If the newspapers were rescanned clearly, there are so many mysteries that could be answered!
Does anyone have any idea where this medal might be today? The reverse side should have George Freeth’s name inscribed with the date and description of his heroic rescue.]
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLVI, Helu 34, Aoao 10. Augate 26, 1910.
George Freeth of Honolulu nei is the Hawaiian youth who holds six gold medals [the sixth gold medal], an award from the Congress of America for his fearless rescuing of lives, witnessed at Venice, California, and at the seaside of the Atlantic Ocean, while he was away from home several years ago; there was an announcement aboard the Steamship Sierra last Friday. It said that the Japanese changed the name of their little town in which they live, close to Port Los Angeles, to “Freeth Town”. There was a gift given by the Japanese showing their esteem for this youth for his fearless rescue of some of their kinsmen caught in a terrible storm there some time ago. Continue reading
nupepa 