Miles Mason Oviatt

Manned his gun skillfully as his ship took severe damage.

Marine Corporal Miles M. Oviatt stayed at his gun aboard USS Brooklyn while the ship took severe punishment at Mobile Bay.

Born in Olean, New York, on December 1, 1840, Oviatt served in the U.S. Marine Corps detachment aboard Brooklyn. On August 5, 1864, the ship fought Confederate forts, gunboats, and the ironclad Tennessee. Despite casualties and damage around him, Oviatt continued fighting his gun throughout the two-hour engagement that ended with Tennessee's surrender.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): Despite severe damage to USS Brooklyn and casualties on deck at Mobile Bay, Oviatt fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the battle that resulted in the surrender of CSS Tennessee.

Oviatt died on November 1, 1880, and was buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery in New York. His Medal of Honor is held by the National Museum of the Marine Corps.