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Civil War Double Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Coxswain John Cooper, US Navy
Original name: John Laver Mather Cooper
One of only 19 United States servicemen to be awarded the Medal of Honor twice, and one of only 14 to be awarded the United States' highest military honor for two separate actions. His true name was John Laver Mather.
FIRST AWARD:
Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Born: 1832, Ireland. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864. Second award. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite severe damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy 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 Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
SECOND AWARD:
Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Born: 1832, Ireland. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864. Citation: Served as quartermaster on Acting Rear Admiral Thatcher's staff. During the terrific fire at Mobile, on 26 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.
Courtesy of Find A Grave
Burial:
Cypress Hills National Cemetery
Brooklyn
Kings County
New York, USA
Plot: Section 2, Grave 5022
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