Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the military as Charles A. Read. He is buried as Charles A. Reed. Born in Sweden, he enlisted in the Union Navy from Ohio, and served under the name as a Coxswain on board the sloop-of-war “USS Kearsarge”. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in action when the “Kearsarge” fought and destroyed the Confederate Navy commerce raider “CSS Alabama” off Cherbourg, France on June 19, 1864. His citation reads "Acting as the first sponger of the pivot gun during this bitter engagement, Read exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended for his gallantry under fire by his divisional officer.” His Medal was awarded to him on December 31, 1864. After the war and his discharge from the United States Navy, he disappeared into history, and his subsequent life and final disposition remain unknown. He was one of seventeen “Kearsarge” crewmen to be awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery during the battle, including Paymaster’s Steward Michael Ahern, Captain of the Top John F. Bickford, Boatswain's Mate William S. Bond, Captain of the Forecastle James Haley, Carpenter’s Mate Mark G. Ham, Seaman George H. Harrison, Coxswain John Hayes, Seaman James H. Lee, Seaman Charles Moore, Seaman Joachim Pease, Boatswain’s Mate Thomas Perry, Quartermaster William B. Poole, Seaman George E. Read, Chief Quartermaster James Saunders, Quartermaster William Smith and Captain of the Top Robert Strahan.
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the military as Charles A. Read. He is buried as Charles A. Reed. Born in Sweden, he enlisted in the Union Navy from Ohio, and served under the name as a Coxswain on board the sloop-of-war “USS Kearsarge”. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery in action when the “Kearsarge” fought and destroyed the Confederate Navy commerce raider “CSS Alabama” off Cherbourg, France on June 19, 1864. His citation reads "Acting as the first sponger of the pivot gun during this bitter engagement, Read exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended for his gallantry under fire by his divisional officer.” His Medal was awarded to him on December 31, 1864. After the war and his discharge from the United States Navy, he disappeared into history, and his subsequent life and final disposition remain unknown. He was one of seventeen “Kearsarge” crewmen to be awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery during the battle, including Paymaster’s Steward Michael Ahern, Captain of the Top John F. Bickford, Boatswain's Mate William S. Bond, Captain of the Forecastle James Haley, Carpenter’s Mate Mark G. Ham, Seaman George H. Harrison, Coxswain John Hayes, Seaman James H. Lee, Seaman Charles Moore, Seaman Joachim Pease, Boatswain’s Mate Thomas Perry, Quartermaster William B. Poole, Seaman George E. Read, Chief Quartermaster James Saunders, Quartermaster William Smith and Captain of the Top Robert Strahan.
Bio by: Don Morfe
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