★

Loading archive…

★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)

Leonidas Mahlon Godley — Victoria Cross

< Back to Heroes

Service Profile

Branch: U.S. Army
Rank: First Sergeant
Service Era: American Civil War, Western Theater of the American Civil War, Siege of Vicksburg
Medals Recorded: 1

Leonidas Mahlon Godley

First Sergeant, U.S. Army

Support & adopt this hero ↓

American Civil WarWestern Theater of the American Civil WarSiege of Vicksburg

Awards & Decorations

Medal of Honor 1896–1903 Army

Ribbon Rack

Biography

Led his men to the enemy works, hit 3 times and captured!

Leonidas M. Godley was born in Mason County, Virginia (now West Virginia), on 13 June 1836. The sources reviewed do not establish a prewar occupation or family details.

He enlisted in Company E, 22nd Iowa Infantry, in 1862 and became first sergeant.

Medal of Honor citation (condensed): At Vicksburg on 22 May 1863, he led his company to the Confederate works, where he received three severe wounds, was captured, and lost a leg without anesthetic.

The Medal of Honor was presented on 3 August 1897. He died in Ottumwa, Iowa, on 23 May 1904 and was buried there at Ottumwa Cemetery.

Sources: https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/leonidas-m-godley; https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/citations2.html

Support & adopt

Become the named supporter for this profile and edit the tribute biography and portrait (Owner account required). Proceeds help keep the archive online.

$25 USD / year — annual sponsorship renewal. Keeps the page online and, where enabled, the family anniversary remembrance emails active.