b. 1826 England. d. 09/1896 Vallejo, California.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 24/25/12/1864 and 13-15/01/1865 Fort Fisher, North Carolina.
Englishman Willis enlisted in the US Navy for a three-year term in August 1864, and was assigned to the Union ironclad USS New Ironsides (1862). His enlistment is credited to the state of Pennsylvania.
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.
After leaving the Navy, Willis moved to Vallejo, California, where he committed suicide on 9 or 10 September 1896.
MOH CITATION:
Willis served on board the U.S.S. New Ironsides during action in several attacks on Fort Fisher, 24 and 25 December 1864; and 13, 14 and 15 January 1865. The ship steamed in and took the lead in the ironclad division close inshore and immediately opened its starboard battery in a barrage of well-directed fire to cause several fires and explosions and dismount several guns during the first two days of fighting. Taken under fire as she steamed into position on 13 January, the New Ironsides fought all day and took on ammunition at night, despite severe weather conditions. When the enemy troops came out of their bombproofs to defend the fort against the storming party, the ship’s battery disabled nearly every gun on the fort facing the shore before the cease-fire order was given by the flagship.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.