[3] By June 6, 1876, he was serving as a seaman on USS Plymouth commanded by Captain Edward Barrett.
On that day, he and other crewmen took Plymouth's steam-powered launch to shore at Port Royal, South Carolina.
For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, proposed by Edward Barrett three days later, on June 9.
[4] Lejeune's official Medal of Honor citation reads: Serving on board the U.S.S.
Plymouth, Lejeune displayed gallant conduct in rescuing a citizen from drowning at Port Royal, S.C., 6 June 1876.