John F. Auer (1866 – March 28, 1951) was a sailor in the United States Navy who was one of 193 people received the Medal of Honor in non-combat events,[2] a practice no longer authorized by law, and one of only 3,449 recipients of the award.
[5] After completing basic training he was assigned to the USS Lancaster, the flagship of the European Squadron as a Seaman Apprentice.
[6] For their heroism, both Auer and Gillick were awarded the United States' highest military decoration for gallantry, the Medal of Honor, on February 2, 1884.
Before Seaman Auer left the Navy, the medal was stolen,[4] though he wore the ribbon (and retained the citation) until his final years.
Jumping overboard, Auer rescued from drowning a French lad who had fallen into the sea from a stone pier astern of the ship.