Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Landsman Martin Howard received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 31, 1864 in Plymouth, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Tacony. Howard was about 21 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Howard was born in 1843 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Howard died on November 27, 1910 in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of about 67. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts. Records also list him as Horgan, Michael C..
Howard 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
Served on board the U.S.S. Tacony during the taking of Plymouth, N.C., 31 October 1864. Carrying out his duties faithfully during the capture of Plymouth, Howard distinguished himself by a display of coolness when he participated in landing and spiking a 9-inch gun while under a devastating fire from enemy musketry.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- 1843Born in Ireland
- October 31, 1864Act of valor — Plymouth, North CarolinaAge about 21. U.S.S. Tacony
- November 27, 1910Died in Boston, MassachusettsAge about 67.
- Resting placeHoly Cross CemeteryMalden, Massachusetts