Coxswain Patrick Colbert, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 31, 1864 in Plymouth, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Commodore Hull. Colbert was about 22 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Colbert was born in 1842 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Colbert died on January 19, 1877 in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of about 35. He is buried at Mount Elliott Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.
Colbert 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. Commodore Hull at the capture of Plymouth, 31 October 1864. Painfully wounded by a shell which killed the man at his side, Colbert, as captain of the forward pivot gun, remained at his post until the end of the action, braving the heavy enemy fire and appearing as cool as if mere target practice.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Capture of Plymouth.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- 1842Born in Ireland
- October 31, 1864Act of valor — Plymouth, North CarolinaAge about 22. U.S.S. Commodore Hull
- January 19, 1877Died in Detroit, MichiganAge about 35.
- Resting placeMount Elliott CemeteryDetroit, Michigan
Biography
Coxswain Patrick Colbert (1842 to January 19, 1877) was an Irish soldier who served in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. Colbert received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action aboard the ferry USS Commodore Hull during the Capture of Plymouth on 31 October 1864. He was honored with the award on 31 December 1864.
From the Wikipedia article “Patrick Colbert”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
