Maintopman John Williams

The first U.S. Navy sailor to earn the Medal of Honor was assigned to Pawnee during the Civil War. While conducting an attack on Mathias Point, Virginia, against a Confederate stronghold on June 26, 1861, Maintopman Williams commanded an assault boat and retained command although severely wounded in the thigh by an enemy musket ball. When enemy fire shot away his boat’s flagstaff,  Maintopman Williams held the stump of the flagstaff with the American flag in place with one hand, continued to manuever his boat with his other hand, and rallied and inspired his men to a successful attack.