The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Fireman Charles W. Kenyon, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Galena in the attack upon Drewry’s Bluff, Virginia, 15 May 1862. Severely burned while extricating a priming wire which had become bent and fixed in the bow gun while his ship underwent terrific shelling from the enemy, Fireman Kenyon hastily dressed his hands with cotton waste and oil and courageously returned to his gun while enemy sharpshooters in rifle pits along the banks continued to direct their fire at the men at the guns.