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First Name: John

Last Name: McCloy

Birthplace: Brewsters, NY, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Navy (present)

Rating:

Home of Record: NY




Date of Birth: 03 January 1876

Date of Death: 24 May 1945

Rank or Rate: Lieutenant Commander

Years Served: 1898 - 1928
John McCloy

   
Engagements:
•  Boxer Rebellion (1899 - 1901)
•  Occupation of Veracruz (1914)

Biography:

John McCloy

Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy

Medal of Honor Recipient

Occupation of Veracruz

Lieutenant Commander John McCloy was a sailor, and later an officer, in the U.S. Navy who twice received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions. His first Medal of Honor was awarded for actions with the relief expedition of the Allied Forces in China in the Boxer Rebellion in June 1900; the second award of the Medal was for his action during the Occupation of Veracruz in 1914. He is one of only 19 individuals to receive the Medal of Honor twice.

John McCloy was born on 3 January 1876 in Brewsters, NY. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 7 March 1898. He was warranted as a Boatswain on 30 July 1903 and commissioned as an Ensign on 1 July 1917.

Medal of Honor

1st Award, Boxer Rebellion

Rank and organization: Coxswain, U.S. Navy.

Citation: In action with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China, 13, 20, 21, and 22 June 1900. During this period and in the presence of the enemy, Coxswain McCloy distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.

2nd Award, Occupation of Veracruz

Rank and organization: Chief Boatswain, U.S. Navy.

Citation: For heroism in leading 3 picket launches along Vera Cruz sea front, drawing Mexican fire and enabling cruisers to save our men on shore, 22 April 1914. Though wounded, he gallantly remained at his post.

Immediately after World War I, he commanded minesweeper USS Curlew (AM-8) clearing the mines of the North Sea mine barrage. For this work he was awarded the Navy Cross. He retired from active duty as a Lieutenant on 15 October 1928, and was promoted in retirement to Lieutenant Commander on 23 February 1942.

Post-Military Life

McCloy was active in both the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was a founding member of American Legion Post No. 1 in Leonia, NJ, the first American Legion post in the state.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor - Boxer Rebellion
Medal of Honor - Occupation of Veracruz
Navy Cross

Honors

• USS McCloy (DE-1038), a Bronstein-class destroyer escort, is named in his honor.
• USS McCloy (FF-1038), a Bronstein-class destroyer escort, is named in his honor.
• The USPS issued a series of stamps, Distinguished Sailors, to their 2010 stamp collection with McCloy as one of the four famous American sailors of the 20th Century.

Death and Burial

Lieutenant Commander John McCloy died of an apparent heart attack on 25 May 1945 in his home in Leonia, NJ. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, in Section 8, Lot 5246.



Honoree ID: 65   Created by: MHOH

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