Quartermaster John McGowan was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 24, 1862 in Forts Jackson & St. Philip, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Varuna. McGowan was about 31 years old.
18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
McGowan was born in 1831 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York.
McGowan 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
McGowan occupied one of the most responsible positions in the U.S.S. Varuna, during the attacks on Forts Jackson and St. Philip and in action against the rebel ship Morgan, 24 April 1862. Although guns were raking the decks from behind him, McGowan remained steadfast at the wheel throughout the thickest of the fight, continuing at his station and rendering service with the greatest courage and skill until his ship, repeatedly holed and twice rammed by the enemy, was beached and sunk.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Ireland — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1831Born in Ireland
- April 24, 1862Act of valor — Forts Jackson & St. Philip, LouisianaAge about 31. U.S.S. Varuna
Biography
John McGowan (born 1831, date of death unknown) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip.
From the Wikipedia article “John McGowan (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
