Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Seaman James Aloysius Walsh received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 21, 1914 in Vera Cruz, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Florida. Walsh was 16 years old.
40 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 6, 1915 — presented by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on the deck of the USS Florida at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
Walsh was born on July 24, 1897 in New York, New York. Walsh died on May 29, 1960 in Montroes, New York, at the age of 62. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
Walsh is one of 56 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1914 Veracruz expedition and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Florida; for extrordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the seizure of Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21 and 22 April 1914.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II, World War I.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
From the archives
Additional information on his action comes from U.S. Navy General Order No. 101, dated June 15, 1914. He was in the signal squad with three other men, Fred J. Schnepel, Charles A. Bishop, and Charles L. Nordsiek, under Ensign McDonnell. "They were stationed on the roof of the Terminal Hotel from 11:30 am, April 21, till sunset, and returned there at daylight on the 22d. On this roof and near them a marine was killed, an electrician third class was seriously wounded, and one member of the party (Nordsiek) was wounded. Nothwithstanding the constant fire to which they were subjected and their unusually exposed position, they were not diverted from their extremely important duty of keeping unbroken and efficient communication by signals with the U.S.S. Prairie."
Timeline
- July 24, 1897Born in New York, New York
- April 21, 1914Act of valor — Vera Cruz, MexicoAge 16. U.S.S. Florida
- January 6, 1915Medal of Honor presentedPresented by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on the deck of the USS Florida at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
- May 29, 1960Died in Montroes, New YorkAge 62.
- Resting placeLong Island National CemeteryFarmingdale, New York
Biography
James Aloysius Walsh (July 24, 1897 – May 29, 1960) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his role in the occupation of Veracruz. Only 16 at the time of his actions, he was possibly the youngest recipient of the Medal in the 20th century. A native of New York City, Walsh joined the Navy from there and by April 21, 1914, was serving as a seaman on the USS Florida (BB-30). On that day and the next, he participated in the capture of the Mexican port city of Veracruz. Walsh went ashore as a member of a five-man signal squad led by Ensign Edward O. McDonnell. The other squad members were Charles F. Bishop, Charles L.
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