Irish Recipients of the Medal of Honor

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Bernard Shields

Appomattox, Virginia

8th April 1865

Bernard Shields was born in Ireland in 1833. He served as a Private in Company E, 2nd West Virginia Cavalry during the American Civil War. At Appomattox, Virginia on 8th April 1865 he captured the flag of the Washington Artillery and was awarded a Medal of Honor on 3rd May 1865.

Shields died on 20th April 1887 and is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio.

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John O'Neal

USS Kansas, Greytown, Nicaragua

12th April 1872

John O’Neal was a Boatswain's Mate in the US Navy, serving aboard the USS Kansas in 1872. The Kansas was a Civil War-era gunboat which was engaged on a survey of Nicaragua. Coming ashore at Greytown in a boat which capsized in heavy surf, several of the crew were drowned. Several sailors earned the Medal of Honor for rescuing their comrades and preventing further loss of life. O'Neal was the only Irish recipient, receiving his medal on 9th July 1872.

John O'Neal was born in Ireland in 1841. His date and place of death are unknown.

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Moses Orr

Arizona

12th April 1875

Moses Orr was born in Co. Tyrone in 1840. He was issued with the Medal of Honor on 12th April 1875 for “Gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches” during Crook’s Winter Campaign of 1872-73 when he served with the 1st Cavalry Regiment.

Orr had joined the army in Philadelphia and he returned there after military service. He died on 10th May 1897 and is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery.

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Frederick Platten

Sappa Creek, Kansas

23rd April 1875

By 1875 the conflicts between white settlers and native Indians had all but ended in Kansas. There was however the occasional raid by Indians travelling from hunting ground to hunting ground and retaliation by white buffalo hunters or farmers. Frequently the whites got their retaliation in first. In late 1874 and early 1875 a group of Cheyenne attacked a family of migrants killing several and making off with four young girls. Around the same time some buffalo hunters were killed by Indians. The army spent several months searching for the Cheyenne and eventually picked out a group of Indians, seemingly at random and arrested several. The Indians resisted, shots were exchanged and the prisoners escaped leaving several dead behind. The escapees camped at Sappa Creek in northern Kansas near the present-day town of Oberlin.

A Lt Henley was in command of an army patrol in the area searching for the refugees when he met a large group of Buffalo hunters. The hunters had been told of the presence of these Cheyenne, who they blamed for killing several of their comrades. Henley’s men and the hunters made their way to Sappa Creek. Henley wanted to talk with the Cheyenne to ensure they were the escaping prisoners but the hunters were determined to have blood and one of their number opened fire despite Henley showing a flag of truce. Theupshot was that a gun battle broke out with the Indians pinned down in the creek bed.

It was during this gunfight that Sgt Frederick Platten led a small group of men up along the creek in an attack on the Indians flank. This surprise attack broke the Cheyenne resistance and Platten was awarded the Medal of Honor on 16th November 1876. Less honourably some 60 Indians including women and children died in the firefight.

Frederick Platten was born in Ireland on 17th April 1847, he served in the 6th Cavalry during the Indian Wars, leaving the army in 1882. He worked in Alaska during the gold-rush and subsequently moved to Arizona where he ran a saloon in Williams. Platten died aged 92 on 2nd March 1939 and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.

Photos; www.findagrave.com

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New Orleans, Louisiana

24th April 1862

Part of the Union plan for defeating the Confederacy was to gain control of the Mississippi River. In order to do this they first had to capture New Orleans, Louisiana. The task fell to the US Navy’s West Gulf Blockading Squadron, commanded by David G. Farragut. Farragut’s force comprised 17 warships and 19 mortar boats.

New Orleans was defended by two forts down river from the city, Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip, and four smaller batteries. In addition the Confederates had 10 gunboats and two Ironclads, CSS Louisiana and CSS Manassas. The Louisiana wasn’t completed and was used as a floating battery. At the forts the river was blocked by a boom.

Farragut’s plan was to bombard the forts using his mortar boats until they surrendered or their guns were rendered useless. This action commenced on 18th April 1862 and continued non-stop with little success for five days. Under cover of the bombardment sailors from the USS Itasca and USS Pinola opened a gap in the boom.

By the 23rd, Farragut had lost patience with the bombardment of the forts and decided to run the gauntlet of their fire and steam upriver to the city. At 2am on April 24th, the Union fleet began moving upstream, in three divisions. The first division came under fire at 3.15am but cleared the forts with little difficulty. The second division did not have it so easy. Farragut’s flagship, the USS Hartford ran aground on a mudbank while avoiding a fire raft. The crew extinguished the fire and refloated the ship. Above the forts the Union fleet met the Confederate ships. The Manassas attempted unsuccessfully to ram USS Pensacola but succeeded in ramming USS Brooklyn, causing minor damage. Her manoeuvres had brought her downstream below the forts however and unable to make any headway against the current Manassas ran aground and was destroyed by Union gun fire.

Farragut’s gamble had paid off and with the loss of only 37 men dead he steamed upstream to New Orleans, arriving off the city on April 25th. The Confederate garrison withdrew and the forts, now cut off downstream surrendered. Four Irish-born sailors earned Medals of Honor on 24th April 1862

Christopher Brennan

Brennan was born in Ireland in 1832 and joined the Navy in Massachusetts. In 1862 he was a Seaman on the USS Mississippi. It was the Mississippi which destroyed the Manassas when it ran aground. Brennan received his Medal of Honor for “skill and courage throughout the entire engagements which resulted in the taking of St. Philip and Jackson and in the surrender of New Orleans”. His date and place of death are unknown. The USS Mississippi ran aground while engaged in operations against Port Hudson, Louisiana in March 1863 and was fired by her crew to prevent capture.

Thomas Flood

Thomas Flood was a Boy aboard USS Pensacola on 24th April 1862. His station was on the bridge acting as aide to the executive officer, F.A. Roe. A shell struck Pensacola’s bridge, blowing off the leg of Signal Quartermaster Murry and throwing Flod out of the bridge to the deck below. Flood returned to the bridge, carried Murry below decks to the surgeon and then took over his signal duties. In his after action report Roe said of Flood that he performed his duties “with coolness, exactitude and the fidelity of a veteran seaman. His intelligence and character cannot be spoken of too warmly”

Born in Ireland in 1840, Flood was decorated with the Medal of Honor on 3rd April 1863. His date and place of death are unrecorded.

USS Varuna

The USS Varuna was a steam powered ship intended for trade but bought by the US Navy at the start of the Civil War. During the operations against the forts Varuna was attacked and rammed by two Confederate ships the CSS Governor Moore and CSS Stonewall Jackson. Both ships rammed the Varuna twice and then fired on her. Despite the fact that she was sinking, the Varuna’s crew continued firing until rising water silenced her guns. Eight of the crew received Medals of Honor for this action including two Irish sailors.

William Martin

Born in Ireland in 1839 and joined the Navy in New York. Martin was in charge of a gun aboard Varuna and received his medal on 3rd April 1863 for courage and coolness under fire. His place and date of death are unknown.

John McGowan

Quartermaster John McGowan was born in 1831, Ireland and joined the Navy in New York. During the battle with the two Confederate ships McGowan was at the Varuna’s wheel. With gunfire raking the decks from behind him, McGowan remained at his post throughout the fight. Like the others his place and date of death are unknown.

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John Foley

Nebraska

26th April1872

John Foley was born in Cork in 1839 and joined the army in Boston serving in the Indian Wars with Company B, 3rd Cavalry Regiment.

In April 1872 Captain Charles Meinhold led a patrol from Fort McPherson in pursuit of a band of Miniconjou Sioux who had stolen some horses from the Union Pacific railroad. On the 26th, reaching the South Loup River near present-day Stapleton, Nebraska he split his patrol sending Foley with 10 men and a civilian scout to patrol along the south bank of the river. The scout was Buffalo Bill Cody and he led the patrol to within 50 yards of the Indian camp before being discovered. Foley led a charge into the camp which seemingly consisted of only four or five men, six others being away hunting at the time. The cavalrymen killed the Indians in the camp and four men were awarded Medals of Honor including Foley and Cody. The medals were issued on 22nd May 1872, Foley’s for Gallantry in action.
John Foley died in Benicia, California on 18th November 1874 and he is recorded as being buried in Benicia Arsenal Post Cemetery. Strangely he is buried in a grave marked with an Unknown Soldier headstone.

Cody had his medal revoked in 1917 along with several hundred others when legislation that confined the MOH to actual military personnel was retrospectively applied. The medals were officially restored in 1989.

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Patrick Leonard

Grace Creek, Nebraska

28th April 1876

Patrick Leonard was born in Co. Clare in 1828.

In 1876 he was a Corporal in Company A, 23rd Infantry Regiment, having joined the army at Camp Three Forks, Idaho.
The action at Grace Creek was a side show of the Sioux War of 1876. A patrol led by one Lt C H Heyl encountered a group of Sioux near Fort Hartstuff. Duirng the fire fight Lt Heyl and two men charged an enemy position on a hill and were awarded Medals of Honor. Patrick Leonard was obviously one of tehse men and he was issued a MOH on 26th August 1876.

Patrick died in Lansing, Kansas on 1st March 1905 and is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Leavenworth, Kansas.

Until 1984 it was thought that Patrick Leonard was a double MOH winner but it wa discovered that tehre were in fact two Patrick Leonards so he only gets one.

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James Reed

Arizona

29th April 1868

James Reed was born in Kilkenny in 1833. He joined the Army in California and served in the Indian Wars in Company A, 8th Cavalry.

He won a Medal of Honor on 29th April 1868 in Arizona when, as the only unwounded man in a group of four, he fought off attack by 17 Indians. His medal was issued on 24th July 1869. Reed’s date and place of death are unknown.

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Battle of Chancellorsville

30th April – 6th May 1863



Map of Battle of Chancellorsville on 1st May 1863

The Battle of Chancellorsville was yet another failed attempt, the fifth of the war, by the Union Army to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond. After the disaster at Fredericksburg, the army had received a new commander, Joe Hooker, who reorganised the army’s command and logistics. By late April the great advance began with the Union arny crossing the Rapahannock River and concentrating 70,000 men at Chancellorsville by 30th April. Opposing them was a single Confederate Division. Lee however moved the majority of his men from around Fredericksburg, under command of Stonewall Jackson, to reinforce the Confederate line between the Zoan and Tabernacle churches.

Jackson marched at dawn on May 1st and his men began arriving at the Confederate lines at 8 am. Rather than simply reinforcing the lines, Jackson decided to go on the offensive, a bold move given the disparity in the strength of the opposing sides. At 11am he began his advance and contact was made with Hooker’s men at 11.20. The Union troops were initially pushed back but then counter-attacked. By 2 pm the Federals looked to be gaining the upper hand and then Hooker mysteriously halted the offensive, ordering his troops to dig in around Chancellorsville for the night.

Lee and Jackson held a conference at which it was decided that Jackson would lead a flanking march through the Wilderness at dawn to attack the Union Army in the right flank on 2nd May. Hooker meanwhile had decided to summon another Corps from Fredericksburg intending that it make a night march and be in position near Chancellorsville by dawn. A communications failure meant that did this not happen.

Jackson's Flank Attack on May 2nd 1863

Jackson began his 12 mile march with 28,000 men early on the morning of the 2nd May. Despite being observed on a couple of occasions by Federal units, no serious attempt was made to interfere with his progress. Indeed it was believed by some that this was the Confederate army retreating. By the time the Federals made an attempt to cut the road the Confederates were taking, most of Jackson’s men had passed by an a single regiment, 23rd Georgia Infantry guarded the rear until most of them were taken prisoner.

By mid-afternoon, Jackson was almost in position. Surveying the Union lines from a hill near the Orange Plank Road he saw Howard’s XI Corps resting. To attack from his present position would mean a frontal attack so he marched his corps two miles more and deployed two divisions astride the Orange Turnpike, with another Division coming up in support. Jackson’s attack began about 5.30 pm and within two hours had pushed the Union troops back over a mile and within sight of Chancellorsville. The confusion was enormous and the sole attempt to rally men to make a stand was executed after the Confederates had passed by at Fairview. XI Corps was badly mauled in this action, losing 2,500 men killed, wounded and captured including half its regimental commanders.

Jackson became a victim of his own success however. After dark he rode out on a reconnaissance along the Orange Plank Road, planning to continue with an all-out night assault. On his return journey his group was fired upon by his own side and Jackson was wounded in three places, necessitating the amputation of his arm. He died on May 10th of pneumonia.

Felix Brannigan
2nd May 1863

Felix Brannigan was born in Ireland in 1844. In 1863 he was a Private in Company A, 74th New York Infantry. 74th New York was in 2nd Brigade, Second Division of Sickles III Corps.

He was awarded a Medal of Honor for his day’s work on 29th June 1866, his citation reading “Volunteered on a dangerous service and brought in valuable information”. The dangerous service that Brannigan performed was a reconnaisance patrol with three other men during which they discovered that Gen “Stonewall” Jackson had been shot by his own side during the night.

Felix was commissioned later in the war as a Lieutenant in the 103rd Coloured Infantry. He died on 10th June 1907 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Damien Shiels take on the story irishamericancivilwar.com/2013/05/03/medal-of-honor-private-felix-brannigan-74th-new-york-infantry/

Map Credits; Wikipedia
Photo; Find a Grave

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Battle of Chancellorsville

3rd May 1863

The fighting continued around Chancellorsville on 3rd May 1863 and the action also began to move eastwards as Union troops moved from Fredericksburg and Confederates moved to stop them. At the end of the day’s fighting on 2nd May, Gen “Stonewall” Jackson had received wounds which would ultimately prove fatal. Command of his corps fell to Gen Hill, who was wounded in turn and passed command onto Jeb Stuart. On the Union side, XI Corps had been all but routed by Jackson’s men. The Federals simply brought up another corps, Reynold’s I Corps, so the Union still had a numerical advantage of almost 2 to 1. In addition to losing his best field commander, Lee also had a problem in that his army was now divided in three, with part of his force holding the Federals at Fredericksburg ten miles to the east, another holding Union troops in place at Chancellorsville while Jackson’s men were reorganising in the Wilderness. The Confederate forces at Chancellorsville were divided by Sickles's III Corps, occupying high ground at Hazel Grove.

To his credit, Stuart had his Corps reorganised on the Orange Plank road by dawn with his three division in column astride the highway. Heavy fighting ensued as the Confederates attacked the Union salient from two sides. It was the Confederate artillery superiority, for the only time in Virginia, that carried the day, driving the Union artillerymen from their commanding position at Hillview. By 10am, the two Confederate forces met near Chancellorsville while the Union troops made a fighting withdrawal to the Rappahannock. It was during this withdrawal that the first of the three Irish Medals of Honor were won on the day.

William Sewell

William Joyce Sewell was a Colonel and Commanding Officer of the 5th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry at Chancellorsville. 5th New Jersey was part of 3 Brigade, Second Division of Sickle’s III Corps. Sewell assumed command of his brigade when its commander, Brigadier General Gershom Mott was seriously wounded. Rallying groups of men from many regiments, Sewell “fought these troops with great brilliancy through several hours of desperate conflict, remaining in command though wounded and inspiring them by his presence and the gallantry of his personal example.” His medal was issued on 25th March 1896.

Sewell was born in Castlebar, Co. Mayo on 6th December 1835 and immigrated to the US in 1851. He was seriously wounded in command of the 5th New Jersey at Gettysburg, a couple of months after Chancellorsville. His wounds effectively ended his career as a field soldier and he ended the war as commander of Fort Powhatan in the Department of Virginia. After the war he was appointed a Brevet Brigadier General in recognition of his service. He also served in the New Jersey and US Senates. Sewell died on 27th December 1901 in Camden, New Jersey where he is buried in Harleigh Cemetery.

Photo; pinterest.com

Second Battle of Fredericksburg and Battle of Salem Church

3rd May 1863

Gen Jubal Early had been left with a relatively small force to hold the town of Fredericksburg. During the night of 2nd May he received agrabled message from Lee’s staff which he interpreted to mean that he should bring most of that force to Chancellorsville. On the Union side Hooker had ordered Union forces at Fredericksburg to cross the Rappahannock river and advance to Chancellorsville, destroying any Confederate forces they met on the way. Early was forced to turn back to Fredericksburg to counter the Federal advance. It was to no avail however, before Early could strengthen the line at Marye’s Heights, the Union army had broken through. Early began a fighting withdrawal towards Chancellorsville. In this he was assisted by a failure in command by the Union side to seize the initiative and drive forward. Lee sent reinforcements to Early and a Confederate defensive line was established on a ridge at Salem Church. Late in the afternoon the Federals attempted to break this line with no success. Hooker later blamed General Sedgewick’s lack of aggression for this failure which was a bit rich coming from Hooker.

3rd May 1863 was an extremely costly day for both sides which suffered equally in terms of casualties. 21,357 men were lost on the day making it second only to Antietam in terms of casualties. Two Irish soldiers won Medals of Honor in this phase of the Chancellorsville battle, both fighting in units in Newton's Third Division of the Union VI Corps.

Edward Brown

Edward Brown was born on 6th July 1841. At Chancellorsville he served as a Corporal in Company G, 62d New York Infantry. His medal was issued on 24th November 1880, the citation reading that Brown was “severely wounded while carrying the colors, he continued at his post, under fire, until ordered to the rear.”

Edward survived his wounds and was mustered out of the army with the rank of Sergeant on 22nd September 1864. He died in New York on 5th November 1911 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Queens.

Photo; www.findagrave.com

Peter McAdams

Peter McAdams was born in Armagh on 21st April 1834. He was a Corporal in Company A, 98th Pennsylvania Infantry when he won his Medal of Honor at Salem Heights, on 3rd May 1863. His MOH citation reads that McAdams “Went 250 yards in front of his regiment toward the position of the enemy and under fire brought within the lines a wounded and unconscious comrade”. His medal was issued on 1st April 1898.

McAdams was subsequently commissioned a Lieutenant. He died on 29th September 1926 and is buried in Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church Cemetery, Manayunk, Pennsylvania.

Photo; www.findagrave.com

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Battle of Chancellorsville

4th May 1863

On the morning of 4th May the Union army was located in two salients with their backs to the Rappahannock River. Despite still having superior numbers Hooker was in no mood to go on the offensive or even reinforce Sedgewick’s Corps near Fredericksburg. During the morning the Confederates made half-hearted attacks on Sedgewick’s positions but apart from re-occupying Fredericksburg did not do much.

Sedgewick was solely concerned with protecting his line of retreat across the river, which he did and then withdrew across it early on May 5th.

Hooker followed on May 6th, ending the Chancellorsville Campaign. The campaign had been disastrous for the Union, defeated as they were by half their number. Hooker was relieved of command on June 28th just days before Gettysburg. On the other side, while it was a tactical victory for the Confederates, Lee failed to actually destroy the Army of the Potomac, which could easily replace its losses, something that the Confederacy could not do.

St Clair Mulholland

During the skirmishing on the night of May 4th-5th, Major St Clair Mulholland earned a Medal of Honor in command of a picket line formed by his regiment, the 116th Pennsylvania Infantry. His line held the enemy in check all night to cover the retreat of the Army.

Mulholland was born in Lisburn, Co. Antrim on 1st April 1839. He joined the army in Philadelphia and was commissioned a Lieutenant-Colonel, later reduced to Major when the 116th Pennsylvania was reduced to one battalion. Mulholland was wounded on several occasions during the war and finished up a Brevet Major General. After the war he became Chief of Police in Philadelphia. He was also appointed a United States Pension Agent. Mulholland died on 17th February 1910 in Philadelphia, and he was buried at the Old Cathedral Cemetery, Philadelphia.

Map; Wikipedia
Photo;Findagrave

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U.S.S. Signal, Red River

5 May 1864

USS Signal was a steamship taken into US Navy service in 1862. In 1864 she was engaged on the Red River Campaign in Louisiana. On May 4th she was sent downstream from Alexandria carrying a messenger with despatches.

Twenty miles downstream, Signal was ambushed by Confederate artillery and sharpshooters. The Union ship returned fire and an intermittent battle ensued for four miles downstream where Signal rendezvoused with USS Covington and an Army transport the John Warner.

The three ships anchored overnight, fighting off Confederate attacks until dawn. The small flotilla then set off again but soon ran into another ambush. The transport ship was disabled, drifted aground and blocked the channel trapping the two gunboats. Signal was soon disabled, ran ashore and fired by her crew who all made it to safety. They were however captured by the Confederates and made Prisoners of War.
Among the four Medal of Honor winners who served on USS Signal were two Irishmen.

John Hyland

John Hyland was born in 1819 in Ireland. He served as a seaman in the Navy. When the USS Signal ran aground, although he was wounded, Hyland courageously went in full view of several hundred sharpshooters and let go the anchor, and again to slip the cable, when he was again wounded by enemy fire.
Hyland survived the war but died in Michigan on 10th August 1867. His medal was issued on 31st December 1864.

Michael McCormick

McCormick was born in 1833 in Ireland. He served as a Boatswain's Mate aboard USS Signal. Serving as gun captain and wounded early in the battle, McCormick stood by his gun in the face of the enemy fire until ordered to withdraw. His medal was issued on 31st December 1864. McCormick died on 19th May 1865 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is buried in Wood National Cemetery, which began life as a cemetery serving a Soldiers and Sailors Hospital. Presumably McCormick died either of his injuries or as a result of his captivity.

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Thomas Fallon

Williamsburg, Virginia

5th May 1862

Thomas Fallon was born in Co. Galway on 12th August 1837, emigrating to the US in 1859. During the Civil War he served as a Private in Company K, 37th New York Infantry.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor on 13th February 1891 for three separate acts of bravery during the war. At Williamsburg, Virginia on 5th May 1862 he assisted in driving rebel skirmishers back to their main line. He participated in an action, at Fair Oaks, Virginia on 30-31st May 1862, though excused from duty because of disability and in a charge with his company at Big Shanty, Georgia on 14-15th June 1864, he was the first man on the enemy's works.

Fallon died on 26th August 1916 and is buried in Saint Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold, New Jersey.

irishamericancivilwar.com/2011/10/13/medal-of-honor-private-thomas-t-fallon-37th-new-york-infantry/

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Edmund English

Wilderness, Virginia

6th May 1864

Born on 16th November 1841, English enlisted in the US Army on 27th May 1861 and served in 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. He rose through the ranks to First Sergeant and was awarded the Medal of Honor on 13th February 1891 for bravery during the Battle of the Wilderness on 6th May 1864. During a rout and while under orders to retreat he seized the regimental colours, rallied the men and drove the enemy back. English rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant of the 7th United States Veteran Volunteers and was discharged in August 1866.

Edmund English died on 27th May 1912 in Philadelphia, where he is buried in the Old Cathedral Cemetery.

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Cienfuegos, Cuba

11th May 1898

Cienfuegos is a town on the south coast of Cuba. During the Spanish-American War, it was the location of a cable house which linked Spanish Command to other units in Cuba and elsewhere in the Carribbean. On 11th May 1898 two US warships USS Nashville and USS Marblehead were sent on a raid to dredge up and cut the cables at Cienfuegos.

The ships began by bombarding the cable house at 6.45 am, destroying it within minutes. Rowing boats were then launched to find and cut the cables close to the shore. Spanish reinforcements quickly arrived, assuming there was a full scale invasion underway. Under fire and faced with difficulties in locating the cables the crews managed to find and cut two cables, the third remaining un-cut. The raid was over by noon and 52 men received Medals of Honor for bravery during the mission. Five of them were of Irish birth.

Philip Gaughan

Philip Gaughan was born in Belmullet,Co. Mayo on 17th March 1865. He joined the US Marine Corps in Philadelphia in 1887 and in 1898 he was a Sergeant serving aboard USS Nashville. His citation reads that “Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Gaughan set an example of extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.” His medal was issued on 7th July 1899.

Gaughan died on 31st December 1913 and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Pennsylvania.

Michael Gibbons

Also serving aboard USS Nashville was Oiler Michael Gibbons. Gibbons was born in Ireland on 15th November 1866 and joined the US Navy after immigrating. His citation is the same as Gaughan’s and his medal was issued on the same date.

Unusually, Michael Gibbons returned to Ireland after his service. He died on 27th February 1933 and is buried in Kilmeena Old Cemetery, Co. Mayo. His grave remained unmarked until 1999.

Michael Kearney

Private Michael Kearney, US Marine Corps was born in Newmarket, Co. Cork on 4th October 1874 and joined the USMC in Massachusetts. His MOH, issued on 7th July 1899, was for “extraordinary bravery and coolness” throughout the action at Cienfuegos. He was serving on USS Nashville.

Kearney died in Brooklyn, New York on 31st October 1937 and he is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery.

John Maxwell

John Maxwell was born in Ireland on 26th June1874. He was a Fireman Second Class in the US Navy aboard USS Marblehead in 1898 . His medal was issued on 7th July 1899 with the Citation common to all the awardees of that day.

Maxwell died on 13th November 1931 in Westbury, New York and he is buried in Westbury Friends Cemetery.

Edward Sullivan

Edward Sullivan was a Marine Corps Private, born in Cork on 16th May 1870, and serving aboard USS Marblehead in 1898 . His medal was issued on 7th July 1899. Sullivan died in Uxbridge, Massachusetts on 11th March 1955 and is buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery.