b. 13/06/1836 Mason County, West Virginia. d. 23/05/1904 Ottumwa, Iowa.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 22/05/1863 Vicksburg, Mississippi.
American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was issued the award on August 3, 1897, for his actions as a first sergeant with Company E, 22nd Iowa Infantry, US Army, on May 22, 1863, at the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi. His Medal of Honor citation reads: “Led his company in the assault on the enemy’s works and gained the parapet, there receiving three very severe wounds. He lay all day in the sun, was taken prisoner, and had his leg amputated without anesthetics.”
MOH CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Sergeant Leonidas Mahlon Godley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 22 May 1863, while serving with Company E, 22d Iowa Infantry, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi. First Sergeant Godley led his company in the assault on the enemy’s works and gained the parapet, there receiving three very severe wounds. He lay all day in the sun, was taken prisoner, and had his leg amputated without anesthetics.
BURIAL LOCATION; OTTUMWA CEMETERY, OTTUMWA, IOWA.
SECTION K
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.