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Landsman · U.S. Navy

David Johnson Naylor

Landsman David Johnson Naylor, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War.

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Landsman David Johnson Naylor 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. Oneida. Naylor was 20 years old.

97 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Naylor was born on November 14, 1843 in Thompsonville, Sullivan County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Naylor died on February 7, 1926 in Potter Hill, Rhode Island, at the age of 82. He is buried at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island.

Naylor 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

Served on board the U.S.S. Oneida in the engagement at Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Acting as powder boy at the 30-pounder Parrott rifle, Naylor had his passing box shot from his hands and knocked overboard where it fell into one of the Galena's boats which was under the bow. Jumping overboard, Naylor recovered his box, returned to his station, and continued to carry out his courageous actions throughout the engagement, which resulted in the capture of the rebel ram Tennessee and the damaging of Fort Morgan.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Thompson — map
  • Buried: Rhode Island — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. November 14, 1843
    Born in Thompsonville, Sullivan County, New York
  2. August 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Mobile Bay, Alabama
    Age 20. U.S.S. Oneida
  3. February 7, 1926
    Died in Potter Hill, Rhode Island
    Age 82.
  4. Resting place
    River Bend Cemetery
    Westerly, Rhode Island

Biography

David Johnson Naylor (November 14, 1843 – February 7, 1926) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay.

From the Wikipedia article “David J. Naylor”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on August 5, 1864

See all 98 recipients for August 5, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.