John Lawson (Medal of Honor recipient)

Infobox Military Person
name=John Lawson
born= birth date|1837|6|16
died= death date and age|1919|5|3|1837|6|16
placeofbirth=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
placeofdeath=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
placeofburial=


caption=Landsman John Lawson
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Navy
serviceyears=
rank=Landsman
commands=
unit=USS "Hartford"
battles=American Civil War *Battle of Mobile Bay
awards=Medal of Honor
laterwork=

John Lawson (June 16, 1837 – May 3, 1919) was a United States Navy sailor who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War.

Biography

John Lawson was born June 16, 1837 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On August 5, 1864 during the Battle of Mobile Bay, while serving as a member of USS "Hartford"'s berth deck ammunition party, he was seriously wounded after a shell had wounded him in the leg and killed or wounded the rest of his crew. Despite his wounds, he remained at his post and continued to supply the "Hartford" 's guns. John Lawson was one of twelve men who received the Medal of Honor for heroism that day.After leaving the Navy, he returned to the Philadelphia area, where he raised a large family and earned his living as a huckster. He died in Philadelphia on May 3, 1919 and was buried in Mount Peace Cemetery, Lawnside, New Jersey. He was 81.

Over time, the tombstone which marked his grave subsided, fell, or was worn to the point that it became unreadable; additionally a fire at the cemetery offices destroyed burial records and the cemetery map, and his exact resting place is not known. On April 24, 2004 a new tombstone was dedicated to John Lawson's honor and placed among at least 72 other Civil War veterans who are buried at Mount Peace. On April 24, 2004, the headstone was dedicated at a ceremony attended by veteran's groups, politicians, several of Lawson's descendants, and local community members.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Landsman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1837, Pennsylvania. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 45, December 31, 1864.

Citation:

On board the flagship U.S.S. "Hartford" during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram "Tennessee" in Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864. Wounded in the leg and thrown violently against the side of the ship when an enemy shell killed or wounded the 6-man crew as the shell whipped on the berth deck, Lawson, upon regaining his composure, promptly returned to his station and, although urged to go below for treatment, steadfastly continued his duties throughout the remainder of the action.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*

References

:NHC
*cite web
publisher = Naval Historical Center
title = US People - Lawson, John, Landsman
work = Online Library
date = 2006-05-08
url = http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-l/j-lawson.htm
accessdate = 2006-10-29
*cite web
last = Cohen
first = Phil
title = Landsman John Lawson
work = Heroes of Camden, New Jersey
url = http://www.dvrbs.com/CW/CamdenCountyHeroes-JohnLawson.htm
accessdate = 2006-10-29

Persondata
NAME= Lawson, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= June 16, 1837
PLACE OF BIRTH= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH= May 3, 1919
PLACE OF DEATH= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania