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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Seaman · U.S. Navy

William J. Franks

Seaman William J. Franks, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 5, 1864 off Yazoo City, Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War March 5, 1864

Seaman William J. Franks was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 5, 1864 off Yazoo City, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Marmora. Franks was about 34 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Acting Master's Mate.

Franks was born in 1830 in Chatham County, North Carolina. His Medal of Honor is credited to De Valls Bluff, Prairie County, Arkansas.

Franks is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 12 credited to Arkansas.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served on board the U.S.S. Marmora off Yazoo City, Miss., 5 March 1864. Embarking from the Marmora with a 12-pound howitzer mounted on a field carriage. Franks landed with the gun and crew in the midst of heated battle and, bravely standing by his gun despite enemy rifle fire which cut the gun carriage and rammer, contributed to the turning back of the enemy during the fierce engagement.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Pittsboro — map
  • Died: Independence County — map
  • Buried: Maple Springs Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Arkansas →

Timeline

  1. 1830
    Born in Chatham County, North Carolina
  2. March 5, 1864
    Act of valor — off Yazoo City, Mississippi
    Age about 34. U.S.S. Marmora

Biography

William Joseph Franks (1830 – April 18, 1880) was a United States Navy sailor who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the American Civil War.

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

Also honored for actions on March 5, 1864

BL Bartlett Laffey Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JS James Stoddard Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864
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.