Welcome to the Hammann-Costin WWI Medal of Honor Memorial in Maryland, a tribute to two remarkable heroes whose bravery during World War I earned them the highest military honors. Though the exact location details are sparse, the stories of Charles Hazeltine Hammann and Henry Gilbert Costin shine brightly in American history.
Charles Hammann was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1892. He became a naval aviator during World War I and demonstrated extraordinary heroism on August 21, 1918. While flying a Macchi M.5 seaplane, Hammann rescued a fellow pilot, Ensign George M. Ludlow, from the waters off the Austro-Hungarian coast. Despite the danger and the design limitations of his plane, he managed to bring Ludlow to safety, dodging potential attacks from enemy aircraft. For this act, Hammann was awarded the Medal of Honor. Tragically, his life was cut short in a plane crash in 1919, but his legacy lives on in the ships named after him, USS Hammann (DD-412) and USS Hammann (DE-131).
Henry Gilbert Costin, another Baltimore native, displayed immense courage during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France. On October 8, 1918, Private Costin volunteered to advance against formidable enemy machinegun fire. Despite being seriously wounded, he continued to operate his rifle, resulting in the capture of 100 prisoners and several machineguns. His bravery cost him his life, and he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Costin’s sacrifice is also commemorated through the Liberty Ship SS Henry Gilbert Costin and facilities named in his honor, such as the PVT Henry Costin National Guard Armory.
This memorial serves as a poignant reminder of the valor and dedication of these two men from Maryland. Their stories are woven into the fabric of American military history and continue to inspire future generations.
