John G. Morrison

Infobox Military Person
name= John G. Morrison
born= birth date|1842|11|3
died= death date and age|1897|6|9|1842|11|3
placeofbirth= Ireland
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption= Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Navy
serviceyears= 1861-1863
Rank= Coxswain
commands=
unit= USS Carondelet
battles= American Civil War
awards= Medal of Honor
laterwork=

John Gordon Morrison (3 November 1842 – 9 June 1897) served in the American Civil War, receiving the Medal of Honor in 1862.

Biography

Morrison was born in Ireland [ Two different dates of birth are found in available references. The DANFS brief biographical sketch gives a birth data of 13 July 1838. Online references containing Morrison's Medal of Honor citation give his date of birth as 3 November 1842.] and came to the United States in 1855. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy at Lansingburgh, New York, 24 April 1861, he volunteered for service on gunboat "Carondelet" on 15 February 1862. He was appointed coxswain and later received the Medal of Honor for exceptional bravery during an engagement 15 July 1862 with Confederate ram CSS "Arkansas" in the Yazoo River. He was an inspiring example to the crew during "Carondelet"’s unsuccessful attempt to halt the ironclad ram’s progress through the Union blockade to the Mississippi River.

Discharged 31 March 1863, Coxswain Morrison died in New York City 9 June 1897.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization:Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Entered service at: Lansingburg, N.Y. Born: 3 November 1842, Ireland G.O. No.: 59, 22 June 1865.

Citation::Serving as coxswain on board the U.S.S. Carondelet, Morrison was commended for meritorious conduct in general and especially for his heroic conduct and his inspiring example to the crew in the engagement with the rebel ram Arkansas, Yazoo River, 15 July 1862. When the Carondelet was badly cut up, several of her crew killed, many wounded and others almost suffocated from the effects of escaped steam, Morrison was the leader when boarders were called on deck, and the first to return to the guns and give the ram a broadside as she passed. His presence of mind in time of battle or trial is reported as always conspicuous and encouraging.cite web
publisher = American Civil War website
title = MORRISON, JOHN G., Civil War Medal of Honor recipient
date = 2007-11-08
url = http://americancivilwar.com/medal_of_honor6.html
accessdate = 2007-11-08]

Namesake

In 1943, the destroyer USS "Morrison" (DD-560) was named in his honor.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*

Notes

References

:DANFS
* [http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/civwarmz.html Army Medal of Honor website M-Z] Center of Military History
*findagrave|8203381 Retrieved on 2007-11-08
* [http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients] , U.S. Army. Retrieved on 2006-07-02.
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m14/morrison.htm Morrison] , "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships", Naval Historical Canter, Department of the Navy. Retrieved on 2006-07-02.

Persondata
NAME= Morrison, John G.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=