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Civil War Double Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Fireman John Lafferty, US Navy
One of only 24 men in United States history to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor twice. His first was awarded for his Civil War service, where he served in the Union Navy as a Fireman on board the "USS Wyalusing". He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery on the Roanoke River, North Carolina on May 25,1864. His citation for that deed reads "Served on board the U.S.S. Wyalusing and participated in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in Roanoke River, 25 May 1864. Volunteering for the 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". This Medal was issued on December 31, 1864. His second Medal of Honor was awarded for his bravery on September 14, 1881, while he was serving in the United States Navy as a Fireman First Class on board the "USS Alaska" at Callao Bay, Peru. His citation for this act reads "Following the rupture of the stop-valve chamber on that vessel, Laverty hauled the fires from under the boiler". His second Medal was issued on October 18, 1884. During his Civil War service he enlisted as "John Lafferty", and his 1st Medal is recorded under this name. However, when he re-enlisted in the Navy, he used the "Laverty" name, which is the one 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 others being Coal Heaver Charles Baldwin, Fireman Alexander Crawford, Coal Heaver Benjamin Lloyd, and Coxswain John W. Lloyd).
CITATIONS:
FIRST AWARD:
Rank and organization: Fireman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1842, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864. Citation: Served on board the U.S.S. Wyalusing and participated in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in Roanoke River, 25 May 1864. Volunteering for the 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.
SECOND AWARD:
Rank and organization: First Class Fireman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1849, Ireland. Accredited to: California. G.O. No.: 326, 18 October 1884. Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Alaska at Callao Bay, Peru, 14 September 1881. Following the rupture of the stop-valve chamber on that vessel, Laverty hauled the fires from under the boiler.
Courtesy of Find A Grave
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