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SCHENECTADY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE
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You are here: Home » Military » Medal of Honor Recipients
This information obtained from the U.S. Army Center of Military History.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company A, 36th Illinois Infantry.
Place and date: At Missionary Ridge, Tenn., 25 November 1863.
Entered service at: Rutland, Ill. Birth: Schenectady, N.Y. Date of issue: 4 April 1900.
Citation: Sprang over the works just captured from the enemy, and calling upon his comrades to follow, rushed forward in the face of a deadly fire and was among the first over the works on the summit, where he compelled the surrender of a Confederate officer and received his sword.
Rank and organization: Captain of the Forecastle, U.S. Navy.
Born: 1823, Schenectady, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.
Citation: On board the U.S.S. Richmond during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Parks performed his duties with skill and courage throughout a furious 2-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company H, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF.
Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 7 August 1969.
Entered service at: Jacksonville, Fla. Born: 7 May 1950, Schenectady, N.Y.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as grenadier with Company H in connection with combat operations against the enemy. Pfc. Carter's unit was maneuvering against the enemy during Operation Idaho Canyon and came under a heavy volume of fire from a numerically superior hostile force. The lead element soon became separated from the main body of the squad by a brush fire. Pfc. Carter and his fellow marines were pinned down by vicious crossfire when, with complete disregard for his safety, he stood in full view of the North Vietnamese Army soldiers to deliver a devastating volume of fire at their positions. The accuracy and aggressiveness of his attack caused several enemy casualties and forced the remainder of the soldiers to retreat from the immediate area. Shouting directions to the marines around him, Pfc. Carter then commenced leading them from the path of the rapidly approaching brush fire when he observed a hostile grenade land between him and his companions. Fully aware of the probable consequences of his action but determined to protect the men following him, he unhesitatingly threw himself over the grenade, absorbing the full effects of its detonation with his body. Pfc. Carter's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
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https://www.schenectadyhistory.org/military/medalofhonor.html updated March 31, 2015
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