Today's Medal of Honor Moment for 26 June

There are seven Medals awarded for actions on this day, beginning, as we usually do, with the Civil War.  An early instance of "Leave no man behind" as a command philosophy:

 

WILLIAMS, JOHN

Rank and organization: Captain of the Maintop, U.S. Navy. Born: 1828, New Orleans, La. Accredited to: Louisiana. G.O. No.: 11, 3 April 1863. Citation: Serving as captain of the maintop of the U.S.S. Pawnee in the attack upon Mathias Point, 26 June 1861, Williams told his men, while lying off in the boat, that every man must die on his thwart sooner than leave a man behind. Although wounded by a musket ball in the thigh he retained the charge of his boat; and when the staff was shot away, held the stump in his hand, with the flag, until alongside the Freeborn.
 

Next, back to the Indian Wars, and the diminuendo of Little Big Horn.  They weren't listed yesterday because I've adopted the convention that when there is more than one covered date on a citation, I'm using the last day as the day for marking the award.  All products of the Reno-Benteen fight, and while they probably would be Bronze Stars with V or Silver Stars today - it still took notable courage to get out of your rifle pit, and attract attention to yourself getting water and bringing it to the wounded. 

Read the complete post at http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2014/06/todays_medal_of_372.html