John Ortega

{{Infobox military person

|name= John Ortega

|birth_date= 1840

|death_date=

|birth_place= Spain

|death_place=

|placeofburial=

|placeofburial_label= Place of burial

|image= Ortega meda of Honor.jpg

|image_size= 300px

|caption= Reverse of the "Medal of Honor" awarded to U.S. Navy Seaman John Ortega, who was the first Hispanic sailor to be awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor in combat. He distinguished himself, during the South Atlantic Blockade, by the Union Naval forces, during the American Civil War.

| birth_name= Juan Ortega

|nickname=

|allegiance={{unbulleted list| United States of America | Union}}

|branch= Union Navy

|serviceyears= 1863 - 1865

|rank= Master's Mate

|commands=

|unit= {{flagicon|United States Navy}} {{USS|Saratoga|1842|6}}

|battles=

{{plainlist|

}}

|awards={{unbulleted list| Medal of Honor | Civil War Campaign Medal}}

|laterwork=

}}

John (Juan) Ortega (born in 1840), was the first Spanish sailor to be awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor in combat — the Medal of Honor. He distinguished himself, during the South Atlantic Blockade, by the Union Naval forces, during the American Civil War.

Biography

Ortega (birth name Juan Ortega) was born in Spain and immigrated to the United States. He became a resident of Pennsylvania. In 1863, he joined the Union Navy stationed in Pennsylvania, his adopted home state.[http://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=549982 Profile]

Ortega was assigned to {{USS|Saratoga|1842|6}} during the American Civil War. The Saratoga, commissioned in 1843, was the third ship of the United States Navy christened with that name. It was a sloop-of-war under the command of Commander George Musalas Colvocoresses.

File:Kurofune 2.jpg

On January 13, 1864, Secretary of the United States Navy Gideon Welles, ordered Commander Colvocoresses and USS Saratoga to proceed to Charleston, South Carolina, and report to Rear Admiral Dahlgren for duty in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in what is known as the Union blockade. This was a massive effort by the Union Navy to prevent the passage of trade goods, supplies, and arms to and from the Confederate States.

Ortega was a member of the landing parties from the ship who made several raids in August and September which resulted in the capture of many prisoners and the taking or destruction of substantial quantities of ordnance, ammunition, and supplies. A number of buildings, bridges, and salt works were destroyed during the expedition.

For his actions Seaman John Ortega was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to acting master's mate in August 1864. He deserted from the Navy in June 1865.{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/reg-usn-o.htm |title=US Navy aOfficers: 1778-1900 [O] |accessdate=2013-09-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929155855/http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/reg-usn-o.htm |archivedate=2013-09-29 }}

Medal of Honor citation

{{quotebox|

Served as seaman on board the U.S.S. Saratoga during actions of that vessel on 2 occasions. Carrying out his duties courageously during these actions, Ortega conducted himself gallantly through both periods. Promoted to acting master's mate.[http://americancivilwar.com/medal_of_honor7.html Civil War Medal of Honor citations; Last names starting with "O" through "R"], Retrieved November 8, 2007}}

Awards and decorations

Ortega's awards and decorations include the following:

{{center|

File:NavyMOH 1862-1912.jpg|Medal of Honor
(Navy version)

File:Navy Civil War Campaign Medal.jpg|Navy Civil War Campaign Medal

}}

References

{{Cite web |accessdate=September 29, 2010 |url=http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1862_cwh/ortega.html |title=Medal of Honor citation}}
{{Cite web |accessdate=September 29, 2010 |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s/saratoga.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020223155203/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s/saratoga.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 23, 2002 |title=USS Saratoga}}
{{Cite web |accessdate=September 29, 2010 |url=http://www.geocities.com/rodent70/html/SAblck.html |title=South Atlantic Blockading Squadron|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027093539/http://geocities.com/rodent70/html/SAblck.html|archivedate=2009-10-27}}
{{Cite web |accessdate=September 29, 2010 |url=http://vermontcivilwar.org/museum/tl/64.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041019043613/http://vermontcivilwar.org/museum/tl/64.php |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 19, 2004 |title=Vermont Civil War}}
{{Cite web

|publisher=United States Army Center of Military History

|title=Civil War Medal of Honor recipients (M-Z)

|work=Medal of Honor citations

|date=August 3, 2009

|url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html

|accessdate=July 1, 2010

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223063700/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html

|archivedate=February 23, 2009

}}