Michael Joseph McNally

Michael Joseph McNally
Born(1860-06-29)June 29, 1860
Manhattan, New York, US
DiedNovember 2, 1916(1916-11-02) (aged 56)
Chesapeake Bay
Place of burial
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1897–1915
Rank Sergeant Major
Battles / warsSecond Samoan Civil War
 • First Battle of Vailele
Awards Medal of Honor

Michael Joseph McNally (June 29, 1860 – November 2, 1916) was a United States Marine Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Second Samoan Civil War.[1] McNally was part of a joint British, American and Samoan expedition against Samoan rebels on Upolu, Samoa in mid-1899. He fought at the First Battle of Vailele on April 1, 1899, and was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor along with Private Henry L. Hulbert. Both McNally's and Hulbert's citations incorrectly list them as serving in the Philippines during the time of their distinguished service though they served on USS Philadelphia (C-4), which was never dispatched to fight in the Philippine–American War.

McNally joined the Marine Corps from Mare Island, California in December 1897, and retired in January 1915.[2] On the night of 1 and 2 November 1916, he disappeared from a Baltimore Steam Packet Company steamer; his body was recovered some three weeks later, and he was buried in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: June 29, 1860, New York, N.Y. Accredited to: California. G.O. No.: 55, July 19, 1901.
Citation:

For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at Samoa, Philippine Islands, 1 April 1899.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Michael Joseph McNally | Samoa Campaign | U.S. Marine Corps | Medal of Honor Recipient". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  2. ^ USMC History Division

Awards

Note

McNally is sometimes erroneously referred to as Michael L. McNally.