b. 1836 County Monaghan, Ireland. d. 01/06/1892 Milwood, Pennsylvania.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 15/01/1865 Fort Fisher, North Carolina.
Rannahan enlisted in the Marine Corps from Philadelphia in June 1861 and was assigned to the Union frigate USS Minnesota. On January 15, 1865, the North Carolina Confederate stronghold of Fort Fisher was taken by a combined Union storming party of sailors, marines, and soldiers under the command of Admiral David Dixon Porter and General Alfred Terry. Rannahan was one of nine crewmen from the USS Minnesota who received the Medal of Honor for their actions in this battle. He was discharged later that same month.
MOH CITATION:
On board the U.S.S. Minnesota, in the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Cpl. Rannahan advanced to the top of the sandhill and partly through the breach in the palisades, despite enemy fire which killed or wounded many officers and men. When more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained with the party until dark when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms, and its colors.
BURIAL LOCATION: ST MARTIN CHURCH CEMETERY, NEW DERRY, PENNSYLVANIA.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
