Sergeant Marcus A. Hanna was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 4, 1863 in Port Hudson, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 50th Massachusetts Infantry. Hanna was 20 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 2, 1895, 32 years after the action.
Hanna was born on November 3, 1842 in Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine. His Medal of Honor is credited to Rockport, Essex County, Massachusetts. Hanna died on December 12, 1921 in South Portland, Maine, at the age of 79. He is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Portland, Maine.
Hanna is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Voluntarily exposed himself to a heavy fire to get water for comrades in rifle pits.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Marcus A. Hanna received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
- Born: Bristol — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- November 3, 1842Born in Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine
- July 4, 1863Act of valor — Port Hudson, LouisianaAge 20. Company B, 50th Massachusetts Infantry
- November 2, 1895Medal of Honor presented
- December 12, 1921Died in South Portland, MaineAge 79.
- Resting placeMount Pleasant CemeteryPortland, Maine
Biography
Marcus Aurelius Hanna (November 3, 1842 – December 21, 1921) was an American lighthouse keeper famous for his heroism. He is the only person in history to have received both the Medal of Honor and the Gold Lifesaving Medal.
From the Wikipedia article “Marcus Hanna (lighthouse keeper)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
