Quartermaster Thomas H. Jordan was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Galena. Jordan was 24 years old.
97 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Jordan was born on April 12, 1840 in Portsmouth, Portsmouth County, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. Jordan died on July 17, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 90. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
Jordan is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Galena during the attack on enemy forts at Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Securely lashed to the side of the Oneida, which had suffered the loss of her steering apparatus and an explosion of her boiler from enemy fire, the Galena aided the stricken vessel past the enemy forts to safety. Despite heavy damage to his ship from raking enemy fire, Jordan performed his duties with skill and courage throughout the action.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maryland →
Timeline
- April 12, 1840Born in Portsmouth, Portsmouth County, Virginia
- August 5, 1864Act of valor — Mobile Bay, AlabamaAge 24. U.S.S. Galena
- July 17, 1930Died in Baltimore, MarylandAge 90.
- Resting placeMount Olivet CemeteryChicago, Illinois
Biography
Thomas H. Jordan (April 12, 1840 – July 17, 1930) 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 Mobile Bay.
From the Wikipedia article “Thomas Jordan (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
