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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Marine Corps

Michael Joseph McNally

Sergeant Michael Joseph McNally, Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on April 1, 1899 in Samoa during the 1899 Samoa campaign.

Samoa Campaign April 1, 1899Posthumous

Sergeant Michael Joseph McNally was a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on April 1, 1899 in Samoa during the 1899 Samoa campaign. McNally was 38 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant Major.

McNally was born on June 29, 1860 in New York, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to California. McNally died on November 1, 1916 in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, at the age of 56. He is buried at Ted Conaway Memorial National Cemetery in Portsmouth, Virginia.

McNally is one of 4 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1899 Samoa campaign and one of 142 credited to California.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at Samoa, 1 April 1899.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Second Samoan Civil War.

Places

  • Born: New York City — map
  • Died: Chesapeake Bay — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →

Timeline

  1. June 29, 1860
    Born in New York, New York
  2. April 1, 1899
    Act of valor — Samoa
    Age 38.
  3. November 1, 1916
    Died in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia
    Age 56.
  4. Resting place
    Ted Conaway Memorial National Cemetery
    Portsmouth, Virginia

Biography

Michael Joseph McNally (June 29, 1860 – November 2, 1916) was a United States Marine Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Second Samoan Civil War. McNally was part of a joint British, American and Samoan expedition against Samoan rebels on Upolu, Samoa in mid-1899. He fought at the First Battle of Vailele on April 1, 1899, and was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor along with Private Henry L. Hulbert. Both McNally's and Hulbert's citations incorrectly list them as serving in the Philippines during the time of their distinguished service though they served on USS Philadelphia (C-4), which was never dispatched to fight in the Philippine–American War.

From the Wikipedia article “Michael Joseph McNally”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 1, 1899

FF Frederick Thomas Fisher Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Samoa 1899 · 1899 BF Bruno Albert Forsterer Sergeant · Marine Corps Samoa 1899 · 1899 Henry Lewis Hulbert Private · Marine Corps Samoa 1899 · 1899
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.