Henry Johnson

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Seaman Henry Johnson, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action, serving as Seaman on board the U.S.S. Metacomet, Johnson served as a member of the boat’s crew which went to the rescue of the U.S. Monitor Tecumseh when that vessel was struck by a torpedo in passing the enemy forts in Mobile Bay, Alabama, 5 August 1864. He braved the enemy fire which was said by the admiral to be “one of the most galling” he had ever seen, and aided in rescuing from death ten of the crew of the Tecumseh, thereby eliciting the admiration of both friend and foe.