Thomas Henry Jordan MOH

b. 12/04/1840 Portsmouth, Virginia. d. 17/07/1930 Baltimore, Maryland.

DATE OF MOH ACTION: 05/08/1864 Mobile Bay, Alabama.

Born on April 12, 1840, in Portsmouth, Virginia, Jordan was living in Baltimore, Maryland, when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a quartermaster on the USS Galena. At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, he “performed his duties with skill and courage” as his ship assisted the disabled USS Oneida while under heavy fire. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor a year later on June 22, 1865.

 

MOH CITATION:

On board the U.S.S. Galena during the attack on enemy forts at Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Securely lashed to the side of the Oneida, which had suffered the loss of her steering apparatus and an explosion of her boiler from enemy fire, the Galena aided the stricken vessel past the enemy forts to safety. Despite heavy damage to his ship from raking enemy fire, Jordan performed his duties with skill and courage throughout the action.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: MOUNT OLIVET CEMETERY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BLOCK 53, LOT 34.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.