John Cooper AKA John Laver Mather-Brooklyn, NY
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 40° 41.250 W 073° 52.992
18T E 594367 N 4504667
Double Medal of Honor Recipient. His first award was for action during the Civil War in Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. His second award was for action at Mobile on April 26, 1865. He is buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery, Brooklyn NY in
Waymark Code: WMYKB3
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 06/24/2018
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He served in the Navy as an alias, John Cooper. His true name was John Laver Mather. He was born on July 24, 1828 in Dublin, Ireland and died on August 22, 1891 in Brooklyn, NY. His Medal of Honor information and citation for both awards is: COOPER, JOHN
• Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy
• Accredited to: New York
• G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864. Second award
FIRST AWARD Citation: On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite severe damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks from stem to stern, Cooper fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious battle which resulted in the surrender of the prize rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan. SECOND AWARD Citation: Served as quartermaster on Acting Rear Admiral Thatcher's staff. During the terrific fire at Mobile, on 26 April 1865, at the risk of being blown to pieces by exploding shells, Cooper advanced through the burning locality, rescued a wounded man from certain death, and bore him on his back to a place of safety. G.O. No.: 62, 29 June 1865.
Armed Service: Navy
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