Metal of Honor Recipients

Civil War

MICHAEL HUSKEY

Rank: sailor, Fireman, U.S. Navy
Entered Service at: New York
Citation: Fireman on board the U.S.S. Carondelet, Deer Creek Expedition, March 1863. Carrying out his duties gallantly, Huskey volunteered to aid in the rescue of the tug Ivy under the fire of the enemy, and set forth general meritorious conduct during this hazardous mission.

DENNIS THOMAS KIRBY

Birth: 14 September 1838, Niagara Falls, Niagara County, N.Y.
Death: 18 Apr 1922, buried at Arlington, VA
Entered Service at: St. Louis, Mo.
Rank: Major, 8th Missouri Infantry
Place and Date: At Vicksburg, Miss., 22 May 1863
Date of Issue: 31 January 1894
Citation: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Major Dennis Thomas Kirby, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 22 May 1863, while serving with 8th Missouri Infantry, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Major Kirby seized the colors when the Color Bearer was killed and bore them himself in the assault.

JAMES MADISON

Birth: Niagara, N.Y.
Entered Service at: Fairport, N.Y.
Rank: Sergeant, Company E, 8th New York Cavalry
Place and Date: At Waynesboro, Va., 2 March 1865
Date Of Issue: 26 March 1865
Citation: Recapture of Gen. Crook's headquarters flag.

DANIEL ROBERT MCFALL

Birth: 1836, Niagara County, N.Y.
Death: 5 Nov 1919, buried at Milan, M.I.
Entered Service at: Ypsilanti, M.I.
Rank: Sergeant, Company E, 17th Michigan Infantry
Place and Date: At Spotsylvania, Va., 12 May 1864
Date Of Issue: 27 July 1896
Citation: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Daniel Robert McFall, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 12 May 1864, while serving with Company E, 17th Michigan Infantry, in action at Spotsylvania, Virginia. Sergeant McFall captured Colonel Barker, commanding the Confederate brigade that charged the Union batteries; on the same day he rescued Lieutenant George W. Harmon of his regiment from the enemy.

ALONZO SMITH

Birth: 9 August 1842, Niagara County, N.Y.
Death: 17 Jan 1927, buried in Middleport, N.Y.
Entered Service at: Jonesville, M.I.
Rank: Sergeant, Company C, 7th Michigan Infantry
Place and Date: At Hatchers Run, Va., 27 October 1864
Date Of Issue: 1 December 1864
Citation: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Alonzo Smith, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 27 October 1864, while serving with Company C, 7th Michigan Infantry, in action at Hatcher's Run, Virginia, for capture of flag of 26th North Carolina Infantry (Confederate States of America), while outside his lines far from his comrades.

World War I

FRANK GAFFNEY

Birth: Buffalo, N.Y.
Entered Service at: Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Rank: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company G, 108th Infantry, 27th Division
Place and date: Near Ronssoy, France, 29 September 1918
Citation: Pfc. Gaffney, an automatic rifleman, pushing forward alone, after all the other members of his squad had been killed, discovered several Germans placing a heavy machinegun in position. He killed the crew, captured the gun, bombed several dugouts, and, after killing 4 more of the enemy with his pistol, held the position until reinforcements came up, when 80 prisoners were captured.

World War II

WILLIAM F. LEONARD

Birth: Lockport, N.Y.
Rank: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 30th Infantry
Place and date: November 7, 1944, St. Die, France
Notes: also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Citation:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Private First Class William F. Leonard distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Squad Leader in Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy near St. Die, France on November 7, 1944. Private First Class Leonard’s platoon was reduced to eight men as a result of blistering artillery, mortar, machinegun, and rifle fire. Private First Class Leonard led the survivors in an assault over a hill covered by trees and shrubs which the enemy continuously swept with automatic weapons fire. Ignoring bullets which pierced his pack, Private First Class Leonard killed two snipers at ranges of fifty and seventy-five yards and engaged and destroyed a machinegun nest with grenades, killing its two-man crew. Though momentarily stunned by an exploding bazooka shell, Private First Class Leonard relentlessly advanced, ultimately knocking out a second machinegun nest and capturing the roadblock objective. Private First Class Leonard's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

Vietnam

JOHN P. BOBO (KIA)

Birth: 14 February 1943, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Entered Service at: Buffalo, N.Y.
Rank: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF
Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 30 March 1967
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Company 1 was establishing night ambush sites when the command group was attacked by a reinforced North Vietnamese company supported by heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire. 2d Lt. Bobo immediately organized a hasty defense and moved from position to position encouraging the outnumbered marines despite the murderous enemy fire. Recovering a rocket launcher from among the friendly casualties, he organized a new launcher team and directed its fire into the enemy machinegun positions. When an exploding enemy mortar round severed 2d Lt. Bobo's right leg below the knee, he refused to be evacuated and insisted upon being placed in a firing position to cover the movement of the command group to a better location. With a web belt around his leg serving as a tourniquet and with his leg jammed into the dirt to curtain the bleeding, he remained in this position and delivered devastating fire into the ranks of the enemy attempting to overrun the marines. 2d Lt. Bobo was mortally wounded while firing his weapon into the main point of the enemy attack but his valiant spirit inspired his men to heroic efforts, and his tenacious stand enabled the command group to gain a protective position where it repulsed the enemy onslaught. 2d Lt. Bobo's superb leadership, dauntless courage, and bold initiative reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

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