medal_of_honor.html

The President, in the name of Congress, has awarded more than 3,400 Medals of Honor to our nation's bravest Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen since the decoration's creation in 1861. For years, the citations highlighting these acts of bravery and heroism resided in dusty archives and only sporadically were printed. In 1973, the U.S. Senate ordered the citations compiled and printed as Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973). This book was later updated and reprinted in 1979. Some minor misspelling and other errors are duplicated from the official government volume. These likely were the result of the original transcriptions.

The first formal system for rewarding acts of individual gallantry by the nation's fighting men was established by General George Washington on August 7, 1782. Designed to recognize "any singularly meritorious action," the award consisted of a purple cloth heart. Records show that only three persons received the ward: Sergeant Elijah Churchill, Sergeant William Brown, and Sergeant Daniel Bissel Jr.

The Badge of Military Merit, as it was called, fell into oblivion until 1932, when General Douglas MacArthur, then Army Chief of Staff, pressed for its revival. Officially reinstituted on February 22, 1932, the now familiar Purple Heart was at first an Army award, given to those who had been wounded in World War I or who possessed a Meritorious Service Citation Certificate. In 1943, the order was amended to include personnel of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Coverage was eventually extended to include all services and "any civilian national" wounded while serving with the Armed Forces.

Although the Badge of Military Merit fell into disuse after the Revolutionary War, the idea of a decoration for individual gallantry remained through the early 1800s. In 1847, after the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, a "certificate of merit" was established for any soldier who distinguished himself in action. No medal went with the honor. After the Mexican-American War, the award was discontinued, which meant there was no military award with which to recognize the nation's fighting men.

Early in the Civil War, a medal for individual valor was proposed to General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott. But Scott felt medals smacked of European affectation and killed the idea.

The medal found support in the Navy, however, where it was felt recognition of courage in strife was needed. Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy medal of valor, was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861. The medal was "to be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and Marines as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry and other seamanlike qualities during the present war."

Shortly after this, a resolution similar in wording was introduced on behalf of the Army. Signed into law July 12, 1862, the measure provided for awarding a medal of honor "to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldierlike qualities, during the present insurrection."

Although it was created for the Civil War, Congress made the Medal of Honor a permanent decoration in 1863.

Almost 3,400 men and one woman have received the award for heroic actions in the nation's battles since that time.

BATES, NORMAN F.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 4th Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Columbus, Ga., 16 April 1865. Entered service at: _____. Birth: Vermont. Date of issue: 17 June 1865. Citation: Capture of flag and bearer.

BEBB, EDWARD J.
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 4th Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Columbus, Ga., 16 April 1865. Entered service at: Henry County, Iowa. Birth: Butler County, Ohio. Date of issue: 17 June 1865. Citation: Capture of flag.

BENNETT, ORSON W.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, Company A, 102d U.S. Colored Troops. Place and date: At Honey Hill, S.C., 30 November 1864. Entered service at: Michigan. Born: 17 November 1841, Union City Branch County, Mich. Date of issue: 9 March 1887. Citation: After several unsuccessful efforts to recover 3 pieces of abandoned artillery, this officer gallantly led a small force fully 100 yards in advance of the Union lines and brought in the guns, preventing their capture.

BIRDSALL, HORATIO L.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company B, 3d Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Columbus, Ga., 16 April 1865. Entered service at: Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa. Birth: Monroe County, N.Y. Date of issue: 17 June 1865. Citation: Capture of flag and bearer.

BOQUET, NICHOLAS
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 1st Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Wilsons Creek, Mo., 10 August 1861. Entered service at: Burlington, Iowa. Born: 14 November 1842, Germany. Date of issue: 16 February 1897. Citation: Voluntarily left the line of battle, and, exposing himself to imminent danger from a heavy fire of the enemy, assisted in capturing a riderless horse at large between the lines and hitching him to a disabled gun, saved the gun from capture.

BRAS, EDGAR A.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company K, 8th Iowa Infantry. Place and date: Spanish Fort, Ala., 8 April 1865. Entered service at: Louisa County, Iowa. Birth: Jefferson County, Iowa. Date of issue: 8 June 1865. Citation: Capture of flag.

COSGRIFF, RICHARD H.
Rank and organization: Private, Company L, 4th Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Columbus, Ga., 16 April 1865. Entered service at: Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa. Birth: Dunkirk County, N.Y. Date of issue: 17 June 1865. Citation: Capture of flag in a personal encounter with its bearer.

DUNLAVY, JAMES
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 3d Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Osage, Kans., 25 October 1864. Entered service at: Davis County, Iowa. Birth: Decatur County, Ind. Date of issue: 4 April 1865. Citation: Gallantry in capturing Gen. Marmaduke.

ELSON, JAMES M. (aka Elision)
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company C, 9th Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Shells burg, Iowa. Birth: Coshocton, Ohio. Date of issue: 12 September 1891. Citation: Carried the colors in advance of his regiment and was shot down while attempting to plant them on the enemy's works.

FANNING, NICHOLAS
Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 4th Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Selma, Ala., 2 April 1865. Entered service at: Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa. Birth: Carroll County, Ind. Date of issue: 17 June 1865. Citation: Capture of silk Confederate States flag and 2 staff officers.

GODLEY, LEONIDAS M.
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company E., 22d Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863. Entered service at: Ashland, Iowa. Birth: Mason County, W. Va. Date of issue: 3 August 1897. Citation: Led his company in the assault on the enemy's works and gained the parapet, there receiving 3 very severe wounds. He lay all day in the sun, was taken prisoner, and had his leg amputated without anesthetics.

HAYS, JOHN H.
Rank and organization: Private, Company F, 4th Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Columbus, Ga., 16 April 1865. Entered service at: Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa. Birth: Jefferson County, Ohio. Date of issue: 17 June 1865. Citation: Capture of flag and bearer Austin's Battery (C.S.A.).

HEALEY, GEORGE W.
Rank and organization: Private, Company E, 5th Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Newnan, Ga., 29 July 1864. Entered service at: Dubuque, Iowa. Birth: Dubuque, Iowa. Date of issue: 13 January 1899. Citation: When nearly surrounded by the enemy, captured a Confederate soldier, and with the aid of a comrade who joined him later, captured 4 other Confederate soldiers, disarmed the 5 prisoners, and brought them all into the Union lines.

HERINGTON, PITT B.
Rank and organization: Private, Company E, 11th Iowa Infantry. Place and date: Near Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., 15 June 1864. Entered service at: Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa. Born: 1840, Michigan. Date of issue: 27 November 1899. Citation: With one companion and under a fierce fire of the enemy at close range, went to the rescue of a wounded comrade who had fallen between the lines and carried him to a place of safety.

HERRON, FRANCIS J.
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, 9th Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Pea Ridge, Ark., 7 May 1862. Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa. Born: 17 February 1837, Pittsburgh, Pa. Date of issue 26 September 1893. Citation: Was foremost in leading his men, rallying them to repeated acts of daring, until himself disabled and taken prisoner.

HILL, JAMES
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, Company I, 21st Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Champion Hill, Miss., 16 May 1863. Entered service at: Cascade, Iowa. Birth: England. Date of issue: 15 March 1893. Citation: By skillful and brave management captured 3 of the enemy's pickets.

KALTENBACH, LUTHER
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company F, 12th Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Nashville, Tenn., 16 December 1864. Entered service at: Honey Creek, Iowa. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 24 February 1865. Citation: Capture of flag, of 44th Mississippi Infantry (C.S.A.).

KEPHART, JAMES
Rank and organization: Private, Company C, 13th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 19 May 1863. Entered service at: ____. Birth: Venango County, Pa. Date of issue: 13 May 1899. Citation: Voluntarily and at the risk of his life, under a severe fire of the enemy, aided and ass1sted to the rear an officer who had been severely wounded and left on the field.

MAY, WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 32d Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Nashville, Tenn., 16 December 1864. Entered service at: Maysville, Franklin County, Iowa. Birth: Pennsylvania. Date of issue: 24 February 1865. Citation: Ran ahead of his regiment over the enemy's works and captured from its bearer the flag of Bonanchad's Confederate battery (C.S.A.).

MAYES, WILLIAM B.
Rank and organization. Private, Company K, 11th Iowa Infantry. Place and date: Near Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., 15 June 1864. Entered service at: DeWitt, Clinton County, Iowa. Birth: Marion County, Ohio. Date of issue. 27 November 1899. Citation: With one companion and under a fierce fire from the enemy at short range went to the rescue of a wounded comrade who had fallen between the lines and carried him to a place of safety.

MILLER, JAMES P.
Rank and organization: Private, Company D, 4th Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Selma, Ala., 2 April 1865. Entered service at. Henry County, Iowa. Birth: Franklin, Ohio. Date of issue: 17 June 1865. Citation: Capture of standard of 12th Mississippi Cavalry (C.S.A.).

MORGAN, RICHARD H.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company A, 4th Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Columbus, Ga., 16 April 1865. Entered service at: Taylor, Freemont County, Iowa. Birth: Dubois County, Ind. Date of issue: 17 June 1865. Citation: Capture of flag inside the enemy's works, contesting for its possession with its bearer.

POWER, ALBERT
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 3d Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Pea Ridge, Ark., 7 March 1862. Entered service at: Davis County, Iowa. Birth: Guernsey County, Ohio. Date of issue: 6 March 1899. Citation: Under a heavy fire and at great personal risk went to the aid of a dismounted comrade who was surrounded by the enemy, took him up on his own horse, and carried him to a place of safety.

SLOAN, ANDREW J.
Rank and organization: Private, Company H, 12th Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Nashville, Tenn., 16 December 1864. Entered service at: Colesburg, Delaware County, Iowa. Birth: Bedford County, Pa. Date of issue: 24 February 1865. Citation: Captured flag of 1st Louisiana Battery (C.S.A.).

SMITH, HENRY I.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, Company B, 7th Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Black River, N.C., 15 March 1865. Entered service at: Shell Rock Fall, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Born: 4 May 1840, England. Date of issue: 7 September 1894. Citation: Voluntarily and under fire rescued a comrade from death by drowning.

SWAN, CHARLES A.
Rank and organization: Private, Company K, 4th Iowa Cavalry. Place and date. At Selma, Ala., 2 April 1865. Entered service at: Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Born: 29 May 1838, Green County, Pa. Date of issue: 17 June 1865. Citation: Capture of flag (supposed to be 11th Mississippi, C.S.A., and bearer.

TIBBETS, ANDREW W.
Rank and organization: Private, Company I, 3d Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Columbus, Ga., 16 April 1865. Entered service at: Appanoose County, Iowa. Birth: Clark County, Ind. Date of issue: 17 June 1865. Citation: Capture of flag and bearer, Austin's Battery (C.S.A.).

TWOMBLY, VOLTAIRE P.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company F, 2d Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Fort Donelson, Tenn., 15 February 1862. Entered service at: Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa. Birth: Van Buren County, Iowa. Date of issue: 12 March 1897. Citation: Took the colors after 3 of the color guard had fallen, and although most instantly knocked down by a spent ball, immediately arose and bore the colors to the end of the engagement.

WELCH, GEORGE W.
Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 11th Missouri Infantry. Place and date: At Nashville, Tenn., 16 December 1864. Entered service at: Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa. Birth: Brown County, Iowa. Date of issue: 24 February 1965 Citation: Captured the flag of the 13th Alabama Infantry (C.S.A.).

WILLIAMSON, JAMES A.
Rank and organization: Colonel, 4th Iowa Infantry. Place and date: At Chickasaw Bayou, Miss., 29 December 1862. Entered service at: Des Moines, Iowa. Born: 8 February 1829, Columbia, Adair County, Ky. Date of issue: 17 January 1895. Citation: Led his regiment against a superior force, strongly entrenched, and held his ground when all support had been withdrawn.

YOUNG, CAVALRY M.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company L, 3d Iowa Cavalry. Place and date: At Osage, Kans., 25 October 1864. Entered service at: Hopeville, Clark County, Iowa. Birth: Washington County, Ohio. Date of issue: 4 April 1865. Citation: Gallantry in capturing Gen. Cabell.