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Coal Heaver · U.S. Navy

William Doolen

Coal Heaver William Doolen, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 5, 1864Born in Ireland

Coal Heaver William Doolen 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. Richmond. Doolen was 39 years old.

97 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Doolen was born on March 4, 1825 in County Kildare, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Doolen died on September 14, 1895 in Laramie County, Wyoming, at the age of 70. He is buried at Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Records also list him as Dolan, William.

Doolen is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Although knocked down and seriously wounded in the head, Doolen refused to leave his station as shot and shell passed. Calm and courageous, he rendered gallant service throughout the prolonged battle, which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the successful attacks carried out on Fort Morgan despite the enemy's heavy return fire.

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

Timeline

  1. March 4, 1825
    Born in County Kildare, Ireland
  2. August 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Mobile Bay, Alabama
    Age 39. U.S.S. Richmond
  3. September 14, 1895
    Died in Laramie County, Wyoming
    Age 70.
  4. Resting place
    Olivet Catholic Cemetery
    Cheyenne, Wyoming

Also honored for actions on August 5, 1864

TA Thomas E. Atkinson Yeoman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JA James Avery Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Baker Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William Blagheen Ship's Cook · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brazell Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brown Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 RB Robert Brown Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William H. Brown Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB Wilson Brown Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John M. Burns Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WC William M. Carr Master-at-Arms · Navy Civil War · 1864 MC Michael Cassidy Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864

See all 98 recipients for August 5, 1864 →

Same unit

JH John S. Hickman Second Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 MM Matthew McClelland First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 TM Thomas Mitchell Landsman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1879 JR John Rush First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 Joseph E. Vantine First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

FC Francis Marion Cunningham First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 TM Theodore Mitchell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HH Henderson Calvin Howard Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 William Sully Beebe First lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 JK John M. Kindig Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Harvey May Munsell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.