b. 12/12/1841 Ireland. d. 23/11/1904 San Francisco, California.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 05/08/1864 Mobile Bay, Alabama.
Richard D Dunphy MOH
Born on December 12, 1841, in Ireland, Dunphy immigrated to the United States and was living in New York City when he joined the U.S. Navy on December 17, 1863. He served during the Civil War as a coal heaver on Admiral David Farragut’s flagship, the USS Hartford. At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, he “performed his duties with skill and courage” despite heavy fire. He was severely wounded by fragments of an artillery shell fired by the Confederate ironclad CSS Tennessee, losing both of his arms above the elbow. For his actions during the battle, he was approved for the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864.
MOH CITATION:
On board the flagship U.S.S. Hartford during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the rebel ram Tennessee, Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. With his ship under terrific enemy shellfire, Dunphy performed his duties with skill and courage throughout this fierce engagement which resulted in the capture of the rebel ram Tennessee.
BURIAL LOCATION: SAINT VINCENTS CEMETERY, VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA.
SECTION I, LOT 1054
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
