The 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles And Famous Irish Regiments
The Irish And The Medal of Honor
John Lafferty: ( 1842-13th November 1903 ) was a sailor in the U.S Navy during the American Civil War. An Irish-American, John was born in New York City, New York. His first award was due to his service aboard the USS Wyalusing. He paricipated in a plan to destroy the rebel ram CSS Albemarle in the Roanoke River, 25th May 1864. He earned his second award while serving on board the USS Alaska at Callao.
During his Civil War service he enlisted as John Lafferty, and his first medal is recorded under this name. However he then re-enlisted in the Navy, he used the name John Laverty, which is the name on his government-issue headstone. He was one of five USS Wyalusing crew members to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War.
The Citation reads that he served on the USS Wyalusing and participated in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in Roanoke River 25th May 1864, volunteering for a hazardous mission. Lafferty participated in the transfer of two torpedoes across an island swamp and then served as sentry to keep guard of clothes and arms left by other members of the party. After being rejoined by others of the party who had been discovered before the plan could be completed, Lafferty succeeded in returning to the mother ship after spending 24 hours of discomfort in the rain and swamp. He was awarded his 2nd Medal of Honor when serving on board the USS Alaska, at Calloa Bay, Peru, on the 14th September 1881. Following the rupture of the stop-valve chamber on that vessel, laverty hauled the fires from under the boiler.
John is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Citation reads that he served on the USS Wyalusing and participated in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in Roanoke River 25th May 1864, volunteering for a hazardous mission. Lafferty participated in the transfer of two torpedoes across an island swamp and then served as sentry to keep guard of clothes and arms left by other members of the party. After being rejoined by others of the party who had been discovered before the plan could be completed, Lafferty succeeded in returning to the mother ship after spending 24 hours of discomfort in the rain and swamp. He was awarded his 2nd Medal of Honor when serving on board the USS Alaska, at Calloa Bay, Peru, on the 14th September 1881. Following the rupture of the stop-valve chamber on that vessel, laverty hauled the fires from under the boiler.
John is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
John Cooper ( July 24th 1828-August 22nd 1891 Born Dublin Ireland)
Was a member of the United States Navy. His first such award came about because of his actions aboard USS Brooklyn during the Battle of Mobile Bay 5th August 1864 during the American Civil War. The second award was a result of an accidental fire in which Cooper advanced through the burning area in order to resue a wounded man from certain death on 26th April 1865.
Was a member of the United States Navy. His first such award came about because of his actions aboard USS Brooklyn during the Battle of Mobile Bay 5th August 1864 during the American Civil War. The second award was a result of an accidental fire in which Cooper advanced through the burning area in order to resue a wounded man from certain death on 26th April 1865.
On board the USS Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennesse, in Mobile Bay, 5th August 1864, despite severe damage to his ship and loss of several men on board as fire raked her decks from stem to stern, Cooper fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious battle which resulted in the surrender of the prize rebel ram Tennesse and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
The second citation reads that whilst serving as a Quartermaster on Acting Rear Admiral Thatcher's Staff, and during the terrific fire at Mobile, on the 26th April 1865, at the risk of being blown to pieces by exploding shells, Cooper advanced through the burning locality, rescued a wounded man from certain death, and bore him on his back to a place of safety.He is buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetary, in Brooklyn.
The second citation reads that whilst serving as a Quartermaster on Acting Rear Admiral Thatcher's Staff, and during the terrific fire at Mobile, on the 26th April 1865, at the risk of being blown to pieces by exploding shells, Cooper advanced through the burning locality, rescued a wounded man from certain death, and bore him on his back to a place of safety.He is buried at Cypress Hills National Cemetary, in Brooklyn.
John McCloy : Was a sailor in the United States Navy. He was born in Leonia, New Jersey. He enlisted in the Navy on the 7th march 1903. He was warranted a boatswain on the 30th July 1903 and commissioned ensign on the 1st July 1917. He received his first Medal of Honor " for distinguished
conduct in the presence of the enemy in battles of the 13th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd of June 1900, while with the relief expedition of the Allied Forces in China "
conduct in the presence of the enemy in battles of the 13th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd of June 1900, while with the relief expedition of the Allied Forces in China "
His second medal of Honor was awarded to him " for Distinguished conduct in battle and extraordinary heroism; engagement of Vera Cruz, April 22nd, 1914. " Immediately after WW1, he commanded minesweeper USS Curlew AM-8 clearing mines of the North Sea mine barrage. For this work he was decorated with the Navy Cross. He retired from active duty, as Lieutenat on the 15th October 1928. On the 23rd February 1942 he was promoted to Lieutenat Commander, retired. He died 25th May 1945 in his home town of Leonia, NJ.
John Joseph Kelly: ( June 24th 1898-November 20th 1957 ) Was a United States Marine, who was awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor for his heroic actions on October 13th 1918 at the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge, France during WW1. He was the last of the 19 two-time Medal of Honor recipients to have been alive. Kelly was born in Chicargo, Illinois on the 24th June 1898. He enlisted as a private in the United States Marine Corps on the 15th May 1917 in Port Royal, South Carolina.
On the 5th of may 1917, he joined the 7th Company, 6th Regiment, at Quantico, Virginia and on the 12th September 1917, he was transferred to the 78th Company. On the 19th January 1918, his Regiment embarked from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the USS Henderson and arrived at St. Nazaire, France on the 5th February 1918. Private Kelly participated in engagements at Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Blanc Mont and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. In the desperate fighting at Blanc Mont Ridge he ran " 100 yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machine-gun nest " for which he was awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor. He also participated in the march to the Rhine River and the occupation of the Coblenz Bridgehead, from 17th November to 12th December 1918. He survived the war and was honorably discharged, with character " Excellent " at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia on the 14th August 1919. John Kelly also received the French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm; Montenegrin Silver Medal for bravery; the French Medaille Militaire; and the Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra
Daniel Daly: Segeant Major Daniel Joseph " Dan " Daly ( 11th November 1873-27th April 1937 ) was a United States Marine. He is famous for his famous war cry during the Battle of Belleau Wood, when besieged and outnumbered, out-gunned and pinned down, he led his men in attack shouting " Come on you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever ?" Daly was described by his fellow Medal of Honor recipient MajGen Smedley Butler as "The fightenist Marine i ever knew! " Daly was born in Glen Cove, New York. In 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion, he received his first Medal of Honor for single-handedly defending his position against repeated attacks and inflicted casualties of around 200 on the attacking enemy.
His second Medal od Honor came fifteen years later on the night of 24th October 1915, he was part of a group of 35 Marines who were ambushed by a force of approximately 400 Cacos ( Haitian bandits ) He led one of three groups of men during the fight to reach a nearby fort, and was awarded the medal for his conspicuous actions.
