The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Coxswain Patrick Colbert, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Commodore Hull at the capture of Plymouth, North Carolina, 31 October 1864. Painfully wounded by a shell which killed the man at his side, Coxswain Colbert, as Captain of the forward pivot gun, remained at his post until the end of the action, braving the heavy enemy fire and appearing as cool as if at mere target practice.