Maurice Wagg

Maurice Wagg
Born	July 23, 1840 London, England
Died	June 22, 1926 (aged 85) New York, New York
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Rank	Coxswain
Unit	USS Rhode Island
Battles/wars	Civil War
Awards	Medal of Honor

Maurice Wagg was a veteran of the American Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Sinking of the USS Monitor

On December 30, 1862, the USS Monitor floundered near Cape Hatteras. Wagg, a sailor on the USS Rhode Island helped to pull crew members of the USS Monitor into one of the Rhode Island's lifeboats.^[1][2] Wagg and several members of the crew of the Rhode Island were credited with saving the lives of four officers and twelve crew members.^[3] As a result of his actions, Wagg was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to the rank of Acting Master's Mate.^[4] He and six other sailors of the USS Rhode Island were the first individuals to receive the Medal of Honor for a non-combat action.^[5]

Citation

Served on board the U.S.S. Rhode Island, which was engaged in saving the lives of the officers and crew of the Monitor off Hatteras, 31 December 1862. Participating in the hazardous task of rescuing the officers and crew of the sinking Monitor, Wagg distinguished himself by meritorious conduct during this operation.^[6]

References

1. "Maurice Wagg". Military Times. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
2. "WAGG, MAURICE". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
3. Beyer, Walter (1902). Deeds of Valor: How America's Heroes Won the Medal of Honor. Detroit, Michigan: The Perrien-Keydal Company. p. 42.
4. Record of the Medals of Honor Issued to the Bluejackets and Marines of the United States Navy, 1862--1877. Washington, D.C.: United States. Navy Dept. pp. 54–55.
5. Owens, Ronald (2004). Medal of Honor: Historical Facts & Figures. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company. p. 22.
6. "WAGG, MAURICE". Home of Heroes. Retrieved 17 May 2014.