John Rountry

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Fireman First Class John Rountry, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism while serving as First Class Fireman on board the U.S.S. Montauk, 21 September 1864, at Port Royal, South Carolina. During the night of 21 September when fire was discovered in the magazine lightroom of that vessel, causing a panic and demoralizing the crew, Rountry, notwithstanding the cry of “fire in the magazine,” forced his way with hose in hand, through the frightened crowd to the lightroom and put out the flames.