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Louisiana's Military Heritage:

    Medal of Honor Recipients

The Louisiana state flag

  

 

WILLIAMS, JOHN

 

Organization: U.S. Navy
Rank: Captain of the Maintop
Born: 1828—New Orleans, LA
Accredited To: G.O. No. 11—April 3, 1863

 

Citation:

 

Serving as captain of the maintop of the USS PAWNEE in the attack upon Mathias Point, 26 June 1861, Williams told his men, while lying off in the boat, that every man must die on his thwart sooner than leave a man behind.  Although wounded by a musket ball in the thigh he retained the charge of his boat; and when the staff was shot away, held the stump in his hand, with the flag, until alongside the FREEBORN.

The Medal of Honor--U.S. Navy (Civil War era)

 

 

 

 

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**Copyright 1997-2007 by Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission**