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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Chief Boatswain · U.S. Navy

John McCloy

Chief Boatswain John McCloy, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 22, 1914 in Vera Cruz, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition.

Mexican Campaign (Vera Cruz) April 22, 1914Double recipient

Chief Boatswain John McCloy was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 22, 1914 in Vera Cruz, Mexico during the 1914 Veracruz expedition. At the time he was serving with Picket Launch. McCloy was 38 years old.

13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. McCloy is one of the few people to receive the Medal of Honor twice; see his other award (June 20 - 22, 1900).

McCloy was born on January 3, 1876 in Brewster, Putnam County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. McCloy died on May 25, 1945, at the age of 69. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by St. John's Roman Catholic Church (Medals for both actions), Leonia, NJ.

McCloy is one of 56 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1914 Veracruz expedition and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Wounded but Fought On

Official Medal of Honor citation

Second Award: For heroism in leading three picket launches along Vera Cruz sea front, drawing Mexican fire and enabling cruisers to save our men onshore, 22 April 1914. Though wounded, he gallantly remained at his post.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Though wounded, he gallantly remained at his post.

Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, John McCloy received:

Navy Cross

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Boxer Rebellion.

Places

  • Born: Brewster — map
  • Died: Leonia — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. January 3, 1876
    Born in Brewster, Putnam County, New York
  2. April 22, 1914
    Act of valor — Vera Cruz, Mexico
    Age 38. Picket Launch
  3. May 25, 1945
    Died
    Age 69.
  4. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Lieutenant Commander John McCloy, USN (January 3, 1876 – May 24, 1945) was an officer in the United States Navy who was one of only 19 individuals to receive the Medal of Honor twice. He received his first Medal of Honor for action in the Boxer Rebellion in June 1900. His second Medal of Honor came in 1915 for action in Vera Cruz, Mexico, in April 1914.

From the Wikipedia article “John McCloy (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Second Medal of Honor

JM John McCloy Coxswain · Navy Boxer Rebellion · 1900

Also honored for actions on April 22, 1914

Edwin Alexander Anderson Captain · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Smedley Darlington Butler Major · Marine Corps Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Albertus Wright Catlin Major · Marine Corps Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Hugh Carroll Frazer Ensign · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 JG John Grady Lieutenant · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Charles Conway Hartigan Lieutenant · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Jonas Howard Ingram Lieutenant, j.g. · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Rufus Zenas Johnston Jr. Lieutenant Commander · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Cary Devall Langhorne Surgeon · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 James Patrick Lannon Lieutenant · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 Frederick Vallette McNair Jr. Lieutenant · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 AS Adolphus Staton Lieutenant · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914

See all 14 recipients for April 22, 1914 →

More Veracruz 1914 recipients from New York

FS Fred Jurgen Schnepel Ordinary Seaman · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 John Arthur Hughes Captain · Marine Corps Veracruz 1914 · 1914 GC George Cregan Coxswain · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 JW James Aloysius Walsh Seaman · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 PD Percy A. Decker Boatswain's Mate Second Class · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914 CN Charles Luers Nordsiek Ordinary Seaman · Navy Veracruz 1914 · 1914
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.