David L. Gifford

David L. Gifford
David L. Gifford
Born	September 18, 1844; Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Died	January 13, 1904 (aged 59); Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Buried	South Dartmouth Cemetery, Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army; Union Army; United States Navy; Union Navy
Years of service	1863 - 1864 (Army); 1864 - 1865 (Navy)
Rank	Private (Army); Ordinary seaman (Navy)
Unit	Company B, 4th Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry
Battles/wars	American Civil War
Awards	Medal of Honor

David Lewis Gifford (September 18, 1844 – January 13, 1904) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1] He was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism shown on May 24, 1864, while serving as a Private with Company B, 4th Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry, at Ashepoo River, South Carolina. His Medal of Honor was issued on January 21, 1897.[2]

Gifford was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts on September 18, 1844, and joined the Army in December 1863. [3] He was transferred to the Navy in June 1864, and was discharged with the rank of Ordinary seaman in August 1865. [4]

Gifford died at the age of 59, on January 13, 1904 and was buried at the South Dartmouth Cemetery in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private David L. Gifford, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 24 May 1864, while serving with Company B, 4th Massachusetts Cavalry, in action at Ashepoo River, South Carolina. Private Gifford volunteered as a member of a boat crew which went to the rescue of a large number of Union soldiers on board the stranded steamer Boston and with great gallantry assisted in conveying them to shore, being exposed during the entire time to a heavy fire from a Confederate battery.[5]

References

"Medal of Honor Recipients". United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
"GIFFORD, DAVID L." Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War, Vol VI
Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War, Vol VIII
"Valor awards for David L. Gifford". Military Times, Hall of Valor. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.

External links

"David L. Gifford". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 11 August 2014.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

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[acmh-1] "Medal of Honor Recipients". United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 11 August 2014.

[cmohs-2] "GIFFORD, DAVID L." Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 11 August 2014.

[3] Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War, Vol VI

[4] Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War, Vol VIII

[mtimes-5] "Valor awards for David L. Gifford". Military Times, Hall of Valor. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.