Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Captain of the Top Alexander Mack received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Brooklyn. Mack was 30 years old.
97 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Chief Boatswain's Mate Ret..
Mack was born on May 17, 1834 in Rotterdam, Holland (The Netherlands) — one of 6 recipients born in Netherlands. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Mack died on September 25, 1907 in New London, Connecticut, at the age of 73. He is buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Mack is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, on 5 August 1864. Although wounded and sent below for treatment, Mack immediately returned to his post, took charge of his gun, and, as heavy enemy return fire continued to fall, performed his duties with skill and courage until he was again wounded and totally disabled.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Although wounded and sent below for treatment, Mack immediately returned to his post, took charge of his gun, and, as heavy enemy return fire continued to fall, performed his duties with skill and courage until he was again wounded and totally disabled.
- Age at death: 73
- Resting place: St. Patrick's Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- May 17, 1834Born in Rotterdam, Holland (The Netherlands)
- August 5, 1864Act of valor — Mobile Bay, AlabamaAge 30. U.S.S. Brooklyn
- September 25, 1907Died in New London, ConnecticutAge 73.
- Resting placeSt. Patrick's CemeteryFall River, Massachusetts
Biography
Alexander Mack (1834–1907) was a sailor in the United States Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the American Civil War. Mack is buried in Saint Patricks Cemetery, Fall River, Massachusetts.
From the Wikipedia article “Alexander Mack (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
