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Photo #: NH 42380 Medal of Honor Obverse of a Medal of Honor awarded to Boatswain's Mate Thomas Gehegan for personal valor while serving as captain of USS Pinola's XI-inch gun during the Battle of New Orleans, 24-25 April 1862. The medal was forfeited because of misconduct and remained in Navy Department custody. See Photo # NH 42381 for an image of the medal's reverse side. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 60KB; 590 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 42381 Medal of Honor Reverse of a Medal of Honor awarded to Boatswain's Mate Thomas Gehegan for personal valor while serving as captain of USS Pinola's XI-inch gun during the Battle of New Orleans, 24-25 April 1862. The medal was forfeited because of misconduct and remained in Navy Department custody. See Photo # NH 42380 for an image of the medal's obverse. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 53KB; 585 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 102740 U.S. Navy Medal of Honor Reverse of a Medal of Honor awarded to Seaman Edward William Boers, USN, for "extraordinary heroism" following the explosion of a boiler on board USS Bennington (Gunboat # 4) on 21 July 1905. Seaman Boers was born 10 March 1884 at Cincinnati, Ohio. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 60KB; 550 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 105348 Chief Water Tender John King, USN John King was twice awarded the Medal of Honor, in both cases for "heroism in the line of his profession" during boiler accidents. The first was on board USS Vicksburg (Gunboat # 11) on 29 May 1901, and the second was on board USS Salem (Scout Cruiser # 3) on 13 September 1909. The Medal of Honor is on the left in the top row of medals worn by Chief Watertender King in this portrait photograph, which was probably taken soon after the First World War. Courtesy of the King Family. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 51KB; 580 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 84020 Lieutenant George H. Wheeler, USN Who was awarded the Medal of Honor for "bravery and extraordinary heroism" during a conflagration in Coquimbo, Chile, 20 January 1909. He then held the rank of Ship Fitter First Class. Note the Medal of Honor ribbon on the far left of his ribbon row. Photographed by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D.C., circa 1919-1920. Courtesy of Mr. Donald K. Smith. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 47KB; 575 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 105428-B Machinist Charles Church Roberts, USN On board USS Santee at Devonport, England, 20 February 1918. Cropped from Photo # NH 105428. Charles C. Roberts had been awarded the Medal of Honor (whose ribbon he wears in this photograph) for "heroism in the line of his profession" during a fire on board USS North Dakota (Battleship # 29) on 8 September 1910. He was a Machinist's Mate First Class at that time. Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2007. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 68KB; 650 x 675 pixels
Photo #: NH 82104-KN (Color) U.S. Navy Medal of Honor Obverse of a Medal of Honor awarded to Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher "For Distinguished Conduct in Battle" during the Vera Cruz intervention, 21-22 April 1914. See Photo # NH 82105-KN for a view of the reverse of this medal. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 81KB; 580 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 82105-KN (Color) U.S. Navy Medal of Honor Reverse of a Medal of Honor awarded to Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher "For Distinguished Conduct in Battle" during the Vera Cruz intervention, 21-22 April 1914. See Photo # NH 82104-KN for a view of the obverse of this medal. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 86KB; 585 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 103898 U.S. Navy Medal of Honor Reverse of a Medal of Honor awarded to Ensign (later: Vice Admiral) Paul F. Foster for "distinguished conduct in battle" during the intervention at Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21-22 April 1914. Collection of Vice Admiral Paul F. Foster, USNR, donated by his estate in 1976. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 61KB; 585 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 103843 U.S. Navy Medal of Honor Reverse of Medal of Honor awarded to Chief Turret Captain Abraham DeSomer for "extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession" during the intervention at Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21-22 April 1914. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 36KB; 580 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 79439 Chief Commissary Steward Jesse W. Covington, USN Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 115. Ship's Cook Third Class Jessie W. Covington, of USS Stewart, received the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism" on 17 April 1918 when he risked his life while rescuing an exhausted survivor of the explosion of the American S.S. Florence H. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 63KB; 590 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 99644 U.S. Navy Medal of Honor Reverse of a Medal of Honor awarded to Chief Gunner's Nate Oscar Schmidt Jr., for "extraordinary heroism" in rescuing crewmen of USS SC-219, which burned and sank at sea on 9 October 1918. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 80KB; 560 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 46075 Lieutenant Junior Grade Thomas J. Ryan, Jr., USN Photographed on 15 March 1924 at the White House after being presented the Medal of Honor by President Calvin Coolidge. He received the award for "extraordinary heroism" in rescuing a woman from the Grand Hotel at Yokohama, Japan, which was on fire after the Great Kanto earthquake, 1 September 1923. He was then attached to the American Embassy at Tokyo, Japan. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 37KB; 740 x 600 pixels
Photo #: NH 95030-KN (Color) U.S. Navy Medal of Honor Obverse of a Medal of Honor awarded posthumously to Chief Water Tender Peter Tomich for "extraordinary courage and disregard of his own safety" as USS Utah (AG-16) was sinking during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. See Photo # NH 95031-KN for a view of the reverse of this medal. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 86KB; 585 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 95031-KN (Color) U.S. Navy Medal of Honor Reverse of a Medal of Honor awarded posthumously to Chief Water Tender Peter Tomich for "extraordinary courage and disregard of his own safety" as USS Utah (AG-16) was sinking during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. See Photo # NH 95030-KN for a view of the obverse of this medal. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 77KB; 585 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 105690 Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Boyington, USMCR Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 161. The original photograph was taken circa October 1945, at the time he received the award. Gregory Boyington was awarded the Medal of Honor for from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944 while serving as Commanding Officer of Marine Fighting Squadron Two Hundred and Fourteen. During this time, he was credited with downing 26 enemy aircraft before being captured by the enemy. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 57KB; 580 x 765 pixels

The photographs listed below show the reverse sides of Medals of Honor issued during and after the Civil War, but apparently not delivered to their intended recipients, in some cases perhaps because of defective engraving:

Photo # NH 105504: Medal awarded to Ordinary Seaman Peter Cotton of USS Baron de Kalb, 1862.

Photo # NH 105627: Medal awarded to Ordinary Seaman Luke M. Griswold of USS Rhode Island, 1863.

Photo # NH 105629: Medal awarded to Boatswain's Mate William Farley of USS Marblehead, 1863.

Photo # NH 105360: Medal awarded to Ship's Cook William Blagheen of USS Brooklyn, 1864.

Photo # NH 105362: Medal awarded to Landsman William H. Brown of USS Brooklyn, 1864.

Photo # NH 105503: Medal awarded to Ordinary Seaman Samuel W. Davis of USS Brooklyn, 1864.

Photo # NH 105363: Medal awarded to Landsman Wilson Brown of USS Hartford, 1864.

Photo # NH 105365: Medal awarded to Captain of the Top Robert Brown of USS Richmond, 1864.

Photo # NH 105361: Medal awarded to Quartermaster John Brazell of USS Richmond, 1864.

Photo # NH 105357: Medal awarded to Quarter Gunner Henry (Charles) Baker of USS Metacomet, 1864.

Photo # NH 105628: Medal awarded to Seaman William Gardner of USS Galena, 1864.

Photo # NH 105364: Medal awarded to Landsman Henry Brutsche of USS Tacony, 1864.

Photo # NH 105358: Medal awarded to Landsman Gurdon H. Barter of USS Minnesota, 1865.

Photo # NH 105506: Medal awarded to Ordinary Seaman Thomas Connor of USS Minnesota, 1865.

Photo # NH 105664: Medal awarded to Ordinary Seaman Thomas Harcourt of USS Minnesota, 1865.

Photo # NH 105505: Medal awarded to Signal Quartermaster Thomas English of USS New Ironsides, 1864-1865.

Photo # NH 105665: Medal awarded to Quarter Gunner Edmund Haffee of USS New Ironsides, 1864-1865.

Photo # NH 105630: Medal awarded to Captain of the Forecastle John Griffiths of USS Santiago de Cuba, 1865.

Photo # NH 105366: Medal awarded to Seaman Albert Burton of USS Wabash, 1865.

Photo # NH 105355: Medal awarded to Ordinary Seaman John Andrews of USS Benicia, 1871.

For photographs of the World War I era "Tiffany Cross" pattern of the Navy Medal of Honor, see:

Navy Medals of Honor, 1861-1941 -- The "Tiffany Cross".

For additional images related to the Medal of Honor, see:

The Navy Medal of Honor, 1942 to the Present;

Medals of Honor of the Other U.S. Armed Services;

Medal of Honor Recipients, Alphabetical Listing; and/or

Medal of Honor Recipients, Chronological Listing.

For more information on the Medal of Honor, including lists of all Navy and Marine Corps recipients, see:

"Frequently Asked Questions: The Navy's Medal of Honor".

NOTES:

To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

Page made 9 July 2000
Coding updated 22 April 2009