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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Ordinary Seaman · U.S. Navy

William Troy

Ordinary Seaman William Troy, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 11, 1871 in Korean Forts, Korea during the 1871 Korean expedition.

Korean Campaign 1871 June 11, 1871

Ordinary Seaman William Troy was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 11, 1871 in Korean Forts, Korea during the 1871 Korean expedition. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Colorado. Troy was 22 years old.

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

Troy was born on June 19, 1848 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Troy died on March 8, 1907, at the age of 58. He is buried at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California.

Troy is one of 15 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1871 Korean expedition and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Colorado during the capture of the Korean forts, 11 June 1871. Fighting at the side of Lt. McKee, by whom he was especially commended, Troy was badly wounded by the enemy.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Fighting at the side of Lt. McKee, by whom he was especially commended, Troy was badly wounded by the enemy.
  • Age at death: 58
  • Resting place: San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery

Places

  • Born: Boston — map
  • Died: Stockton — map
  • Buried: San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. June 19, 1848
    Born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
  2. June 11, 1871
    Act of valor — Korean Forts, Korea
    Age 22. U.S.S. Colorado
  3. March 8, 1907
    Died
    Age 58.
  4. Resting place
    San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery
    Santa Nella, California

Biography

William Troy (1848 – March 8, 1907) entered service in the US Navy from Massachusetts as a United States Navy sailor. For bravery in action during the 1871 Korean Expedition he received the Medal of Honor on June 11, 1871. He was part of the party that rescued the mortally wounded Hugh McKee at Citadel Korea and was himself wounded and specifically commended by the Lieutenant. Originally buried at the Stockton State Hospital Cemetery, his remains were moved to the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery (Section M-1, Grave 53) in Santa Nella Village, Merced County, California.

From the Wikipedia article “William Troy (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on June 11, 1871

CB Charles Brown Corporal · Marine Corps Korea 1871 · 1871 JC John Coleman Private · Marine Corps Korea 1871 · 1871 JD James Dougherty Private · Marine Corps Korea 1871 · 1871 FF Frederick H. Franklin Quartermaster · Navy Korea 1871 · 1871 CH Cyrus Hayden Carpenter · Navy Korea 1871 · 1871 William F. Lukes Landsman · Navy Korea 1871 · 1871 AM Alexander McKenzie Boatswain's Mate · Navy Korea 1871 · 1871 MM Michael McNamara Private · Marine Corps Korea 1871 · 1871 MO Michael Owens Private · Marine Corps Korea 1871 · 1871 HP Hugh Purvis Private · Marine Corps Korea 1871 · 1871 SR Samuel F. Rogers Quartermaster · Navy Korea 1871 · 1871
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.