Mark G. Ham

Fought courageously with marked coolness under enemy fire.

Mark G. Ham served in USS Kearsarge during one of the Civil War's most famous single-ship actions. Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1820, he was a carpenter's mate aboard Kearsarge when the Union sloop met the Confederate raider CSS Alabama off Cherbourg, France, on June 19, 1864.

During the battle Ham carried out his duties steadily under enemy fire as Kearsarge fought and destroyed Alabama. His conduct was specifically commended for coolness and gallantry and earned him the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): Performed his duties courageously aboard USS Kearsarge during the destruction of CSS Alabama, displaying marked coolness and good conduct under enemy fire.

Ham died on March 11, 1869, in Portsmouth and was buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery. Database metadata lists his rank as “sailor”; CMOHS identifies his Medal of Honor rank as Carpenter's Mate, so the rank field should be reviewed separately without changing it in this batch.