Michael Aheam (or true surname Ahern) was an American sailor born in County Cork, Ireland. He received the Medal of Honor for valor in action during the American Civil War. There is an Ahern family genealogy that has a Michael Ahern listed, who was born in County Cork about 1834, but there is no reference to any Civil War Union Navy service of any kind.[1]
Aheam was illegally recruited in Queenstown, Ireland in November 1863 along with several others, and officially enlisted in the US Navy from France.[2] He served as a Paymaster's Steward aboard the USS Kearsarge during her battle with the commerce raiderCSS Alabama on June 19, 1864, off Cherbourg, France. His Medal of Honor citation (dated December 31, 1864) noted that he had been "highly recommended" by his divisional officer after "carrying out his duties courageously" and exhibiting "gallantry under enemy fire" with "marked coolness and good conduct". He was one of seventeen Kearsarge sailors who received the medal for valor during this battle.
Medal of Honor citationedit
Rank and organization: Paymaster's Steward, U.S. Navy. Enlisted in: France. G.O. No.: 45, December 31, 1864.
Citation:
Served on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, June 19, 1864. Carrying out his duties courageously, PmS. Aheam exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended by his divisional officer for gallantry under enemy fire.
michael, aheam, true, surname, ahern, american, sailor, born, county, cork, ireland, received, medal, honor, valor, action, during, american, civil, there, ahern, family, genealogy, that, michael, ahern, listed, born, county, cork, about, 1834, there, referenc. Michael Aheam or true surname Ahern was an American sailor born in County Cork Ireland He received the Medal of Honor for valor in action during the American Civil War There is an Ahern family genealogy that has a Michael Ahern listed who was born in County Cork about 1834 but there is no reference to any Civil War Union Navy service of any kind 1 Michael AhernCivil War era Navy Medal of HonorBornCounty Cork IrelandDiedUnknownAllegianceUnited States of AmericaUnionService wbr branchUnion NavyRankPaymaster s StewardUnitUSS Kearsarge 1861 Battles warsAmerican Civil War Battle of Cherbourg 1864 AwardsMedal of HonorAheam was illegally recruited in Queenstown Ireland in November 1863 along with several others and officially enlisted in the US Navy from France 2 He served as a Paymaster s Steward aboard the USS Kearsarge during her battle with the commerce raider CSS Alabama on June 19 1864 off Cherbourg France His Medal of Honor citation dated December 31 1864 noted that he had been highly recommended by his divisional officer after carrying out his duties courageously and exhibiting gallantry under enemy fire with marked coolness and good conduct He was one of seventeen Kearsarge sailors who received the medal for valor during this battle Medal of Honor citation editRank and organization Paymaster s Steward U S Navy Enlisted in France G O No 45 December 31 1864 Citation Served on board the U S S Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg France June 19 1864 Carrying out his duties courageously PmS Aheam exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended by his divisional officer for gallantry under enemy fire See also edit nbsp American Civil War portal nbsp Biography portalList of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients A FReferences edit Roddy Mary E The Ahern Family of County Cork PDF p 50 Irish in the American Civil War nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from Civil War Medal of Honor recipients A L United States Army Center of Military History nbsp This article about a person of the American Civil War is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael Aheam amp oldid 1177117057, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
