John Breen (sailor)
{{Short description|Irish soldier who fought in the American Civil War}}
{{Infobox military person
|name = John Breen
|image =
|birth_date = c. 1827
|death_date = {{death date|1875|12|13|}}
|birth_place = Ireland
|death_place = Milwaukee
|placeofburial = Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, Milwaukee
|allegiance ={{flag|United States of America|1861}}
|branch ={{navy|USA}}
|serviceyears = 1861 to July 1864
|rank = Boatswain's Mate
|unit ={{Flagicon|New York}}
|battles =
|awards ={{Flagicon image|Medal of Honor ribbon.svg}} Medal of Honor
}}
Boatswain's Mate John Breen (c. 1827 to December 13, 1875) was an Irish soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Breen received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Petersburg, Virginia on 3 October 1862. He was honored with the award on 3 April 1863.{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwaral.html |title=Civil War (A-L) Medal of Honor Recipients |accessdate=14 September 2013 |archive-date=2 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902081051/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwaral.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.cemeteries.org/news0010.asp |title=Medal of Honor Recipient - John Breen Honored at Calvary on Saturday, October 2, 2004 |accessdate=28 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002131810/http://www.cemeteries.org/news0010.asp |archivedate= 2 October 2013 }}
Biography
Breen was born in 1827 in Ireland to William and Margaret Breen. He moved to New York and first enlisted into the United States Navy in 1852 under the name Charles Mercer. He was discharged after three years but later reenlisted under his correct name at the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. During this service he was assigned to various vessels including the U.S.S. Brandywine, the U.S.S. Seymour and the U.S.S. Commodore Perry. It was aboard the USS Commodore that Breen earned the Medal of Honor for his action on 3 October 1862 in successfully repelling Confederate ground troops positioned at the Blackwater River.
Following the war, Breen and his wife, Ellen Grant, relocated to Milwaukee where he continued a career as a sailor. He died on 13 December 1875 of acute pneumonia and his remains are interred at the Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in Milwaukee.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=280253 |title=Students give forgotten Civil War hero a proper tribute |date=30 September 2004 |first=Jim |last=Stingl |accessdate=28 September 2013}}
Medal of Honor citation
{{quotation|On board the U.S.S. Commodore Perry in the attack upon Franklin, Va., 3 October 1862. With enemy fire raking the deck of his ship and blockades thwarting her progress, Breen remained at his post and performed his duties with skill and courage as the Commodore Perry fought a gallant battle to silence many rebel batteries as she steamed down the Blackwater River.}}
See also
{{Portal|Biography|American Civil War}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Breen, John}}
Category:Date of birth unknown
Category:Irish-born Medal of Honor recipients
Category:Military personnel from Milwaukee
Category:People of New York (state) in the American Civil War
Category:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
Category:American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor