The Medal of Honor

Multiple Recipients

Entire regiments fought through terrible battles time after time, with none of their members being recognized by the awarding of this high honor. Considering that, it would seem impossible for any man to be so brave as to earn two Medals of Honor, but it happened, not just once, but three times during the Civil War.

The sole Army recipient to have this distinction bears a name familiar to nearly every American, but this man's heroism was almost completely overshadowed by his brother's flamboyance. Second Lieutenant Thomas W. Custer, Company B, 6th Michigan Cavalry, earned his first Medal of Honor on May 10, 1863, at Namozine Church, Virginia, when he captured an enemy flag. He was 18 at the time.

Two years later, on April 6, 1865, young Custer leaped his horse over the enemy's line of works and fearlessly dashed up to the Confederate color guard. When close to the colorbearer, Custer took a shot in the face which nearly knocked him off his horse, but he remained upright in the saddle and fired at the Confederate holding the flag, hitting him and causing him to reel. Frenzied, Custer reached out and clutched the flag, then spurred his horse and dashed back to Union lines, his trophy held high.

Riding up to his brother Brevet Major General George A. Custer, the lieutenant told him, "The Rebels shot me, but I have their flag." He turned to return to the fight, but the general, realizing the severity of Tom's wounds, ordered him to the rear. His brother refused, so the young major general placed him under arrest and had him escorted to the aid station.

Lieutenant Custer recovered from those wounds and proudly wore his two Medals of Honor, much to his brother's chagrin. Tom would die at the general's side at the Little Big Horn Battle in 1876.

Another two-time medal winner, Coxswain John Cooper, earned his first Medal of Honor during the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. Aboard the USS Brooklyn he worked his gun with skill and courage throughout the savage battle and was cited for his heroic conduct. Then again at Mobile on April 16, 1865, Cooper was detailed as quartermaster on the staff of Rear Admiral Thatcher. On that day there was a tremendous fire in Moblile, and at the risk of being blown apart by exploding ammunition, Cooper advanced through the holocaust and rescued a young comrade from almost certain death. That compassionate act brought him the rare second award.

Boatswain's Mate, Patrick Mullen, also received his two Medals of Honor for combat and noncombat deeds. While serving aboard the USS Don, Mullen led a boat expedition up the Maddow Creek in Virginia. Attacked by Confederate forces, Mullen lay on his back under the gunwales of his boat and worked his artillery piece from that position. Despite his awkward posture, his fire was so accurate that many Confederates were killed or wounded and forced to retreat from the fight. That bit of tenacity brought him his first ribbon and five-pointed star. Then on May 1, 1865, he rescued an officer of the Don from drowning and received not only another Medal of Honor, but the lifelong gratitude of the officer involved.

Several other Civil War awards are worth mentioning. The only instance in history of two brothers being awarded the Medal of Honor occurred at the Battle of Five Forks, Virginia, April 1, 1865, when Privates Allen and James Thompson, Company K, 4th New York Heavy Artillery, were cited for a hazardous reconnaissance in front of their line.

Arthur and Douglas McArthur represent a father-son award, again the only example. Lieutenant Arthur McArthur, at the age of 18 and a First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 24th Wisconsin Regiment, won the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863. A year later at 19, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and the command of the 24th Wisconsin, the youngest officer to hold that rank in the Union Army. His son, General Douglas McArthur was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership, gallantry, heroic conduct, and utter disregard of personal danger, inspiring his troops and galvanizing the spirit of resistance of the Filipino people during the Battle of Bataan in the Philippines at the beginning of World War II.