Boatswain's Mate John Breen was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 3, 1862 in Franklin, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Commodore Perry. Breen was about 35 years old.
8 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Breen was born in 1827 in New York, New York. Breen died on December 13, 1885 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the age of about 58. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Breen 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. Commodore Perry in the attack upon Franklin, Va., 3 October 1862. With enemy fire raking the deck of his ship and blockades thwarting her progress, Breen remained at his post and performed his duties with skill and courage as the Commodore Perry fought a gallant battle to silence many rebel batteries as she steamed down the Blackwater River.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1827Born in New York, New York
- October 3, 1862Act of valor — Franklin, VirginiaAge about 35. U.S.S. Commodore Perry
- December 13, 1885Died in Milwaukee, WisconsinAge about 58.
- Resting placeCalvary CemeteryMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Biography
Boatswain's Mate John Breen (c. 1827 – December 13, 1885) was an Irish soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Breen received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Petersburg, Virginia on October 3, 1862. He was honored with the award on April 3, 1863.
From the Wikipedia article “John Breen (sailor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
