Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Division:

    U.S.S. Oneida

    Action Date:

    August 5, 1864

    War Department, General Orders No. 45 (December 31, 1864)

    The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant James S. Roantree, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action on board the U.S.S. Oneida during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks and penetrated her boilers, Sergeant Roantree performed his duties with skill and courage throughout the furious battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.