Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Carpenter Cyrus Hayden received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 11, 1871 in Korean Forts, Korea during the 1871 Korean expedition. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Colorado. Hayden was about 28 years old.
11 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Hayden was born in 1843 in York, York County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Maine.
Hayden is one of 15 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1871 Korean expedition and one of 66 credited to Maine.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Colorado during the attack and capture of the Korean forts, 11 June 1871. Serving as color bearer of the battalion, Hayden planted his flag on the ramparts of the citadel and protected it under a heavy fire from the enemy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Timeline
- 1843Born in York, York County, Maine
- June 11, 1871Act of valor — Korean Forts, KoreaAge about 28. U.S.S. Colorado
Biography
Cyrus Freeman Hayden (September 1839 – possibly February 25, 1912) was a United States Navy sailor received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean Expedition on June 11, 1871. While serving as the color bearer for the USS Colorado's crew and Marines, Hayden planted the American Flag on the ramparts under heavy enemy fire. Hayden enlisted in the Navy from Boston, Massachusetts in 1869. While some list Hayden's death as occurring in 1912, there is no evidence "that the man buried in Maine was a veteran."
From the Wikipedia article “Cyrus Hayden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
