John McCloy

Under fire in China and Veracruz, John McCloy earned two Medals of Honor

John McCloy was a U.S. Navy sailor whose service in the Boxer Rebellion and at Veracruz, Mexico, brought him two Medals of Honor. He first faced combat as a coxswain with the China Relief Expedition in 1900. Fourteen years later, as chief boatswain, he led three picket launches through Mexican fire during the U.S. occupation of Veracruz. The citations record distinct acts of courage: meritorious conduct in battle in China, and a wounded McCloy remaining at his post during the rescue of sailors at Veracruz. (Naval History and Heritage Command, biography: https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-people/m/mccloy-john.html)

Born in Brewster, New York, on 30 January 1876, McCloy enlisted in the Navy in March 1898. His early service took him aboard USS Columbia, USS Monterey, the schooner Manila, gunboats Gardoqui and Arayat, and cruiser USS Newark. Serving aboard Newark in 1900, he joined the landing force at Peking during the Allied relief expedition in China. He distinguished himself in fighting on 13, 20, 21 and 22 June. The Navy’s official citation for his first Medal of Honor reads: “In action with the relief expedition of the Allied forces in China, 13, 20, 21 and 22 June 1900. During this period and in the presence of the enemy, Chief Boatswain McCloy distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.” (NHHC citation, NH 47930: https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-people/m/mccloy-john/nh-47930.html)

McCloy later became a boatswain and then a chief boatswain. In April 1914, he served as beachmaster with the landing force at Veracruz. Under enemy fire, he led three picket launches along the waterfront to draw Mexican fire and enable U.S. cruisers to rescue sailors ashore. Wounded, he remained at his post. His second official Medal of Honor citation states: “For heroism in leading 3 picket launches along Vera Cruz sea front, drawing Mexican fire and enabling cruisers to save our men on shore, 22 April 1914. Though wounded he gallantly remained at his post.” (NHHC citation, NH 47930, linked above.)

During World War I, McCloy accepted a temporary Navy commission and commanded the seagoing tug USS Ontario and then USS Favorite. After the war, he took command of minesweeper USS Curlew in January 1919. Its crew helped clear the North Sea mine barrage, a hazardous task that earned McCloy the Navy Cross. He also commanded minesweepers USS Cormorant and USS Lark, and served at the New York Navy Yard. (NHHC biography and Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/m/mccloy.html)

McCloy retired from active duty as a lieutenant on 15 October 1928. In 1942 he was advanced to lieutenant commander on the retired list. He died in May 1945 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The Navy later named the frigate USS McCloy in his honor, remembering a sailor who won the Medal of Honor twice, in China and Mexico, and the Navy Cross for postwar mine clearance.