List of Irish-American Medal of Honor recipients
Name Service Rank Place of action Date of action
Dennis Bell Army Private Battle of Tayacoba , Cuba Jun 30 , 1898
George F. Brady Navy Chief Gunner 's Mate Cardenas , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Thomas Cavanaugh Navy Fireman First Class Bahamas November 14 , 1898
Thomas C. Cooney Navy Chief Machinist Cardenas , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Thomas M. Doherty Army Corporal Santiago de Cuba July 1 , 1898
John Fitzgerald Marine Corps Private Cuzco , Cuba June 14 , 1898
Philip Gaughan Marine Corps Sergeant Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Michael Gibbons Navy Oiler Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Michael Kearney Marine Corps Private Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Thomas Kelly Army Private Santiago de Cuba July 1 , 1898
John Maxwell Navy Fireman Second Class Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Daniel Montague Navy Chief Master-at-arms Santiago de Cuba June 2 , 1898
John E. Murphy Navy Coxswain Santiago de Cuba June 2 , 1898
Edward Sullivan Marine Corps Corporal Cienfuegos , Cuba May 11 , 1898
Spanish–American War
The following is a list of Irish-American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were awarded the American military's highest decoration - the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is bestowed for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in actual combat against an armed enemy force. The medal is awarded by the President of the United States on behalf of the Congress. Of the 3,464 Medals of Honor awarded as of September 17, 2009, an estimated 2,021 have been awarded to Irish-American recipients, more than twice the number awarded any other ethnic group; 257 Irish-born Americans have received the Medal of Honor which represents more than half of foreign-born MOH recipients. A monument to these Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients is located at Valley Forge's Medal of Honor Grove; erected by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The first Irish American to receive the Medal was Michael Madden, who received it for his actions in the American Civil War (Note that the earliest action for which the Medal of Honor was awarded was to Irish American U.S. Army Assistant Surgeon Bernard J.D. Irwin for the engagement at Apache Pass, February 1861. The award was made three decades after the event and after Madden's award).