John Lafferty

John Lafferty or Laverty (1842 – November 13, 1903) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War and is one of only 19 people in history to receive the Medal of Honor twice.

Biography

John Lafferty was born in 1842 in County Tyrone, Ireland.

His first award was due to his service aboard the USS Wyalusing. He participated in a plan to destroy the rebel ram CSS Albemarle in the Roanoke River, May 25, 1864. He earned his second award while serving on board the USS Alaska at Callao Bay, Peru, September 14, 1881.

During his Civil War service he enlisted as John Lafferty, and his first Medal is recorded under this name. However, when he re-enlisted in the Navy, he used John Laverty, which is the name used on his government-issue headstone. He was one of five Wyalusing crew members to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the others being Coal Heaver Charles Baldwin, Fireman Alexander Crawford, Coal Heaver Benjamin Lloyd, and Coxswain John W. Lloyd).

He is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his grave can be found in the Naval Asylum Plot.

Medal of Honor citation

1st Award

Rank and organization: Fireman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1842, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 45, December 31, 1864.

Citation:

Served on board the U.S.S. Wyalusing and participated in a plan to destroy the rebel ram Albemarle in Roanoke River, 25 May 1864. Volunteering for the hazardous mission, Lafferty participated in the transfer of two torpedoes across an island swamp and then served as sentry to keep guard of clothes and arms left by other members of the party. After being rejoined by others of the party who had been discovered before the plan could be completed, Lafferty succeeded in returning to the mother ship after spending 24 hours of discomfort in the rain and swamp.

2nd Award

Rank and organization: First Class Fireman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1849, Ireland. Accredited to: California. G.O. No.: 326, October 18, 1884.

Citation:

Serving on board the U.S.S. Alaska at Callao Bay, Peru, September 14, 1881. Following the rupture of the stop-valve chamber on that vessel, Laverty hauled the fires from under the boiler.

See also

• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: G–L
• List of Medal of Honor recipients during Peacetime

References

• "John Lafferty". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-12-17. 
• "homeofheroes.com: Lafferty, John". Retrieved September 29, 2010.