The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Coal Heaver James R. Garrison, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the flagship, U.S.S. Hartford, during successful engagements against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, Alabama, on 5 August 1864. When a shell struck his foot and severed one of his toes, Coal Heaver Garrison remained at his station at the shell whip and, after crudely bandaging the wound, continued to perform his duties until severely wounded by another shellburst.