Weymouth is proud to be Home to 5
Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.
The only Town in the United States to hold that Honor
HAMILTON, THOMAS W.
Rank and Organization:
Quartermaster, U.S. Navy. Born: 1833,
Scotland. Accredited To: Massachusetts. G.O. No.: 17, 10 July
1863.
Citation:
Serving as quartermaster on board the U.S.S. Cincinnati
during the attack on the Vicksburg batteries and at the time of her sinking, 27
May 1863. Engaging the enemy in a fierce battle, the Cincinnati, amidst an
incessant fire of shot and shell, continued to fire her guns to the last
although so penetrated by enemy shell fire that her fate was sealed.
Conspicuously gallant during this action, Hamilton, severely wounded at the
wheel, returned to his post and had to be sent below, to hear the incessant roar
of guns as the gallant ship went down, "her colors nailed to the
mast."
SEACH, WILLIAM
Rank and Organization:
Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Place and Date:
China 13, 20, 21, and 22 June 1900. Entered Service at: Massachusetts. Born:
23 May 1877, London, England. G. O. No.: 55, 19 July 1901.
Citation:
In action with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China during
the battles of 13, 20, 21 and 22 June 1900. June 13: Seach and 6 others were
cited for their courage in repulsing an attack by 300 Chinese Imperialist
soldiers and Boxer militants with a bayonet charge, thus thwarting a planned
massive attack on the entire force. June 20: During a day-long battle, Seach ran
across an open clearing, gained cover, and cleaned out nests of Chinese snipers.
June 21: During a surprise sabre attack by Chinese cavalrymen, Seach was cited
for defending gun emplacements. June 22: Seach and others breached the wall of a
Chinese fort, fought their way to the enemy's guns, and turned the cannon upon
the defenders of the fort. Throughout this period and in the presence of the
enemy, Seach distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.
TALBOT, RALPH
Rank and Organization:
Second Lieutenant,
U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 6 January 1897, South Weymouth, Mass. Appointed
from: Connecticut.
Citation:
For exceptionally meritorious service
and extraordinary heroism while attached to Squadron C, 1st Marine Aviation
Force, in France. 2d Lt. Talbot participated in numerous air raids into enemy
territory. On 8 October 1918, while on such a raid, he was attacked by 9 enemy
scouts, and in the fight that followed shot down an enemy plane. Also, on 14
October 1918, while on a raid over Pittham, Belgium, 2d Lt. Talbot and another
plane became detached from the formation on account of motor trouble and were
attacked by 12 enemy scouts. During the severe fight that followed, his plane
shot down 1 of the enemy scouts. His observer was shot through the elbow and his
gun jammed. 2d Lt. Talbot maneuvered to gain time for his observer to clear the
jam with one hand, and then returned to the fight. The observer fought until
shot twice, once in the stomach and once in the hip and then collapsed, 2d Lt.
Talbot attacked the nearest enemy scout with his front guns and shot him down.
With his observer unconscious and his motor failing, he dived to escape the
balance of the enemy and crossed the German trenches at an altitude of 50 feet,
landing at the nearest hospital to leave his observer, and then returning to his
aerodrome.
JOHNSON, ELDEN H.
Rank and organization:
Private, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date:
Near Valmontone, Italy, 3 June 1944. Entered service at: East Weymouth,
Mass. Birth: Bivalve, N.J. G.O. No: 38, 16 May 1945.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Pvt. Johnson
elected to sacrifice his life in order that his comrades might extricate
themselves from an ambush. Braving the massed fire of about 60 riflemen, 3
machineguns, and 3 tanks from positions only 25 yards distant, he stood erect
and signaled his patrol leader to withdraw. The whole area was brightly
illuminated by enemy flares. Then, despite 20mm. machineguns, machine pistol,
and rifle fire directed at him, Pvt. Johnson advanced beyond the enemy in a slow
deliberate walk. Firing his automatic rifle from the hip, he succeeded in
distracting the enemy and enabled his 12 comrades to escape. Advancing to within
5 yards of a machinegun, emptying his weapon, Pvt. Johnson killed its crew.
Standing in full view of the enemy he reloaded and turned on the riflemen to the
left, firing directly into their positions. He either killed or wounded 4 of
them. A burst of machinegun fire tore into Pvt. Johnson and he dropped to his
knees. Fighting to the very last, he steadied himself on his knees and sent a
final burst of fire crashing into another German. With that he slumped forward
dead. Pvt. Johnson had willingly given his life in order that his comrades might
live. These acts on the part of Pvt. Johnson were an inspiration to the entire
command and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the armed forces.
MURPHY, FREDERICK C.
Rank and Organization:
Private First Class,
U.S. Army, Medical Detachment, 259th Infantry, 65th Infantry Division. Place
and Date Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany, 18 March 1945. Entered
Service at: Weymouth, Mass. Birth: Boston, Mass. G.O. No.: 21,
26 February 1946.
Citation:
An aid man, he was wounded in the
right shoulder soon after his comrades had jumped off in a dawn attack 18 March
1945, against the Siegfried Line at Saarlautern, Germany. He refused to withdraw
for treatment and continued forward, administering first aid under heavy
machinegun, mortar, and artillery fire. When the company ran into a thickly sown
antipersonnel minefield and began to suffer more and more casualties, he
continued to disregard his own wound and unhesitatingly braved the danger of
exploding mines, moving about through heavy fire and helping the injured until
he stepped on a mine which severed one of his feet. In spite of his grievous
wounds, he struggled on with his work, refusing to be evacuated and crawling
from man to man administering to them while in great pain and bleeding
profusely. He was killed by the blast of another mine which he had dragged
himself across in an effort to reach still another casualty. With indomitable
courage, and unquenchable spirit of self-sacrifice and supreme devotion to duty
which made it possible for him to continue performing his tasks while barely
able to move, Pfc. Murphy saved many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his
own life.
