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★Victoria Cross

A comprehensive archive of decorated military heroes from Commonwealth, American, and allied traditions, ranked by the Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25). Honouring valour through history.

USM-25.2Scoring Standard

Scored under the Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25)

George Mahoney — Victoria Cross

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Service Profile

Branch: U.S. Navy
Rank: Fireman First Class
Service Era: Spanish-American War
Medals Recorded: 2

George Mahoney

Fireman First Class, U.S. Navy

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Spanish-American War

Awards & Decorations

Medal of Honor 1862–1912 Navy
Spanish Campaign Medal

Ribbon Rack

Biography

Entering Vixen's fireroom after a boiler accident

George Mahoney was born on January 15, 1865, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He served in the United States Navy as a fireman first class aboard USS Vixen during the Spanish-American War.

On the night of May 28, 1898, at Santiago de Cuba, the lower front manhole gasket of the ship's boiler A exploded. Mahoney entered the fireroom during the emergency. His Medal of Honor citation recognized his composure and courage in confronting the dangerous accident.

Mahoney received the Medal of Honor for this shipboard action. His award commemorates the risks faced by sailors working around naval machinery, and the calm response he demonstrated when a boiler failure threatened his vessel.

Medal of Honor Citation

On board the U.S.S. Vixen on the night of 28 May 1898. Following the explosion of the lower front manhole gasket of boiler A of the vessel, Mahoney displayed great coolness and self-possession in entering the fireroom.

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