Medal of Honor Recipient Robert E. Simanek Passes Away at 92
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Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
U.S. Civil War - U.S. Navy
William Young
Details
Rank: Boatswain's Mate
Conflict/Era: U.S. Civil War
Unit/Command: U.S.S. Cayuga
Military Service Branch: U.S. Navy
Medal of Honor Action Date: April 24 - 25, 1862
Medal of Honor Action Place: Forts Jackson & St. Philip and New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Citation
On board the U.S.S. Cayuga during the capture of Forts St. Philip and Jackson and the taking of New Orleans, 24 and 25 April 1862. As his ship led the advance column toward the barrier and both forts opened fire simultaneously, striking the vessel from stem to stern, Young calmly manned a Parrot gun throughout the action in which attempts by three rebel steamers to butt and board were thwarted and the ships driven off or captured, 11 gunboats were successfully engaged, and garrisons forced to surrender. During the battle, the Cayuga sustained 46 hits.
Additional Details
Accredited to: New York, New York
Awarded Posthumously: No
Born: 1835, NY, United States
Died: December 26, 1878, Erie, PA, United States
Buried: Erie Cemetery (16-C-24), Erie, PA, United States