The first of the many Medals of Honor earned by members of the United States Marine Corps was that awarded to Corporal John F. Mackie. Born in 1835, Mackie enlisted in the Corps on August 23, 1861. On May 15, 1862 he was serving on the ironclad USS Galena which was part of a Union flotilla attempting to steam up the James River past Confederate Fort Darling. The Union force sustained heavy fire from the fort during what became known as the battle of Drewry’s Bluff, and the Galena suffered heavy damage. The Union force turned back, after the Galena suffered heavy damage, but not before Corporal Mackie had performed heroically. Here is his Medal of Honor citation:
On board the USS Galena in the attack on Fort Darling at Drewry’s Bluff, James river, on May 15, 1862. As enemy shellfire raked the deck of his ship, Corporal Mackie fearlessly maintained his musket fire against the rifle pits along shore and, when ordered to fill vacancies at guns caused by men wounded and killed in action manned the weapon with skill and courage. (more…)
Donald R. McClarey
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Almost Chosen People 