James Avery

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Seaman James Avery, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Metacomet. 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, Seaman Avery 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, eliciting the admiration of both friend and foe.