John Coleman (October 9, 1847 – October 30, 1904) was a
United States Marine
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
who received the
United States military
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...
's highest decoration for bravery—the
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...
—for his actions during the
Korean Expedition
The United States expedition to Korea, known in Korea as the ''Shinmiyangyo'' () or simply the Korean Expedition, was the first American military action in Korea and took place predominantly on and around Ganghwa Island in 1871.
The reason fo ...
. He was
Irish-born, and received the Medal for saving the life of
Boatswain's Mate Alexander McKenzie while under enemy attack on the .
Coleman joined the Union Army in July 1863, claiming to be 18 years old. He served with the 16th New York Cavalry Regiment and 3rd New York Provisional Cavalry Regiment until mustering out in September 1865. He enlisted in the Marine Corps from
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
in January 1870, and retired in August 1893.
[USMC History Division]
Coleman later died in California, and was buried at
Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego. His gravestone only mentions his Civil War service.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization. Private, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: October 9, 1847, Ireland. Accredited to: California. G.O. No. 169, February 8, 1872.
Citation.
On board the U.S.S. Colorado in action at Korea on 11 June 1871. Fighting hand-to-hand with the enemy, Coleman succeeded in saving the life of Alexander McKenzie.
See also
*
List of Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their ...
References
:
External links
*
1847 births
1904 deaths
19th-century Irish people
Irish emigrants to the United States
United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
United States Marines
People of New York (state) in the American Civil War
Military personnel from County Cork
Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients
Korean Expedition (1871) recipients of the Medal of Honor
Burials at Mount Hope Cemetery (San Diego)
Union Army soldiers
Child soldiers in the American Civil War
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