b. 24/06/1822 Ringaskiddy, County Cork, Ireland. d. 27/11/1880 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 19/06/1864 off Cherbourg, France.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was also known in the Union Navy as James Healy. He served in the Union Navy as a Captain of the Forecastle on board the sloop-of-war “USS Kearsarge”. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in action when the “Kearsarge” fought and destroyed the Confederate Navy commerce raider “CSS Alabama” off Cherbourg, France on June 19, 1864. His citation reads “Acting as captain of a gun during the bitter engagement, Haley exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly commended by his division officer for his gallantry and meritorious achievement under enemy fire” His Medal was awarded to him on December 31, 1864. He was one of seventeen “Kearsarge” crewmen to be awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery during the battle, including Paymaster’s Steward Michael Ahern, Captain of the Top John F. Bickford, Boatswain’s Mate William S. Bond, Carpenter’s Mate Mark G. Ham, Seaman George H. Harrison, Coxswain John Hayes, Seaman James H. Lee, Seaman Charles Moore, Seaman Joachim Pease, Boatswain’s Mate Thomas Perry, Quartermaster William B. Poole, Coxswain Charles A. Read, Seaman George E. Read, Chief Quartermaster James Saunders, Quartermaster William Smith and Captain of the Top Robert Strahan.
MOH CITATION:
Served as captain of the forecastle on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864. Acting as captain of a gun during the bitter engagement, Haley exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly commended by his division officer for his gallantry and meritorious achievement under enemy fire.
BURIAL LOCATION: MOUNT MORIAH CEMETERY, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
US NAVAL PLOT, SECTION 2, ROW 17, GRAVE 22.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
