The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Assistant Surgeon Richard J. Curran, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 17 September 1862, while serving with 33d New York Infantry, in action at Antietam, Maryland. Assistant Surgeon Curran voluntarily exposed himself to great danger by going to the fighting line there succoring the wounded and helpless and conducting them to the field hospital.