John Freeman Mackie

John Freeman Mackie was a United States Marine Corps sergeant during the American Civil War. He is celebrated as the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in the history of the Marine Corps, and was one of the first two Marines ever to be awarded the nation's highest military decoration for valor.

Mackie received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on May 15, 1862, aboard the ironclad steam gunboat USS Galena. During a fierce battle with Confederate Marines and artillery batteries at Fort Darling on Drewry's Bluff, near Richmond, Virginia, Mackie demonstrated exceptional courage under fire when he rallied the crew and maintained the ship's defense.

His distinguished service during the Civil War set a lasting precedent for bravery within the U.S. Marine Corps. Mackie's legacy remains a cornerstone of Marine Corps history, symbolizing the valor and dedication of the service's early enlisted leaders.