Osepins was born "Christiaan Osephius" in
Schiedam to Gerritje Ruigrok and Johannes Osephius. Osephius immigrated to the United States and joined the Navy from
New York as Christian Osepins. By May 7, 1882, he was serving as a
Seaman on the . On that day, while
Fortune was at
Hampton Roads, Virginia, he and another sailor, Ordinary Seaman
Johannes Rouning, jumped overboard and rescued Gunner's Mate James Walters from drowning. For this action, both Osepins and Rouning were awarded the Medal of Honor two and a half years later, on October 18, 1884. Osepins had not claimed his medal as of 1898, and the decoration remained in the possession of the
Navy Department. Osepins's official Medal of Honor citation reads: For jumping overboard from the U.S. Tug
Fortune, 7 May 1882, at Hampton Roads, Va., and rescuing from drowning James Walters, gunner's mate. Osepns died only 3 years later and was buried in his hometown of Schiedam. ==See also==