John Ditzenback

Securing Neosho's flag under battery fire

John Ditzenback was born in New York City in 1828. He served as a quartermaster in the U.S. Navy aboard the monitor Neosho during the American Civil War.

On December 6, 1864, Neosho engaged enemy batteries at Bells Mills on the Cumberland River near Nashville, Tennessee. After gunfire shot away the ship's flag and signal staffs, Ditzenback left the pilot house. With the vessel still under heavy fire, he took the drooping flag and secured it to the stump of the highest remaining mast. His Medal of Honor citation recognizes both his performance of duty and his exposed work to restore the flag.

The award was accredited to Indiana and was not posthumous. The cited official record does not supply his death date or burial place. His award preserves the conduct of a naval quartermaster who continued his duties amid damage and enemy fire.

Official Medal of Honor citation: Served on board the U.S. Monitor Neosho during the engagement with enemy batteries at Bells Mills, Cumberland River, near Nashville, Tenn., 6 December 1864. Carrying out his duties courageously during the engagement, Ditzenback gallantly left the pilot house after the flag and signal staffs of that vessel had been shot away and, taking the flag which was drooping over the wheelhouse, made it fast to the stump of the highest mast remaining, although the ship was still under a heavy fire from the enemy.