Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Seaman George E. Read received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 19, 1864 off Cherbourg, France during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Kearsarge. Read was about 26 years old.
16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Read was born in 1838 in Rhode Island. Read died in 1910, at the age of about 72. He is buried at Little Neck Cemetery in Riverside, Rhode Island.
Read is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 31 credited to Rhode Island.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Served as seaman on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864. Acting as the first loader of the No. 2 gun during this bitter engagement, Read exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended for his gallantry under fire by his divisional officer.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Rhode Island →
Timeline
- 1838Born in Rhode Island
- June 19, 1864Act of valor — off Cherbourg, FranceAge about 26. U.S.S. Kearsarge
- 1910DiedAge about 72.
- Resting placeLittle Neck CemeteryRiverside, Rhode Island
Biography
George E. Read (1838–1910) was an American sailor who received the Medal of Honor for valor in action during the American Civil War.
From the Wikipedia article “George E. Read”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
