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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Second Class Boy · U.S. Navy

John Lucy

Second Class Boy John Lucy, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 9, 1876 in Castle Garden, New York City, New York (Interim 1871–1899).

Interim 1871 - 1899 July 9, 1876

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Second Class Boy John Lucy received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 9, 1876 in Castle Garden, New York City, New York — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S. Training Ship Minnesota. Lucy was 16 years old.

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

Lucy was born on August 11, 1859 in New York, New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Displayed heroic conduct while serving on board the U.S. training ship Minnesota on the occasion of the burning of Castle Garden at New York, 9 July 1876.

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

Places

  • Born: New York City — map

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Timeline

  1. August 11, 1859
    Born in New York, New York
  2. July 9, 1876
    Act of valor — Castle Garden, New York City, New York
    Age 16. U.S. Training Ship Minnesota

Biography

John Lucy (born 1859, date of death unknown) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Born in 1859 in New York City, Lucy joined the Navy from that state. By July 9, 1876, he was serving as a second class boy on the training ship USS Minnesota. On that day, he "displayed heroic conduct" during a fire at the Castle Garden immigration facility in Manhattan. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor weeks later, on July 27. Lucy's official Medal of Honor citation reads: Displayed heroic conduct while serving on board the U.S.

From the Wikipedia article “John Lucy”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 9, 1876

JB James Bell Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 William Evans Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 BS Benjamin F. Stewart Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

Same unit

WH William Lowell Hill Captain of the Top · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1881 AW Adam Weissel Ship's Cook · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1881

More Interim 1871–1899 recipients from New York

JS John Smith Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1880 GL George Low Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1881 JC John Costello Ordinary Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1876 AW August Wilson Boilermaker · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1897 TC Thomas Cavanaugh Fireman First Class · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1898 CO Christian Osepins Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1882
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.