9
9
0
I read an interesting oddity that gave me some historical pause...apparently, he was the one who ran the great locomotive chase during the Civil War, and was deemed a spy by the Confederacy and lost as a result...now, the really interesting thing, if you all read the piece here, is that, apparently, a good many of the others on the raid with him received the MOH for it, that being one of the first major engagements for which the MOH was given...the really weird part was, if you all read the article, he, bein a civil-service spy for the Union, was apparently deemed ineligible for the MOH, bein civilian...however, if you all would recall, Dr. Mary Walker, the female Union surgeon, was also deemed a civilian, I think, and given the MOH (even though she was asked to give it back some years later, which request she of course entirely justifiably ignored)...I'd also read of an instance at Landing Zone X-Ray in Vietnam, recounted in We Were Soldiers Once and Young, that the combat photographer who was there, though a civilian, was awarded a Bronze Star, and, I'd also read of one woman awarded the DSC as part of OSS, though she, too, was a civilian...I only mention all that, as, at least to me, him not having been awarded the MOH along with many of the others he was with on the raid, just certainly seemed inequitable...I realize it's just an oddity, of course, and also was over 150 yrs. ago now, however, it just seemed to strike me as a wrong that might actually justify some effort to try to set to rights, you know? Any thoughts? I'd just be really curious, I just found him being denied the MOH as a civilian highly unusual, esp. given the instance of Dr. Walker, as well as later instances of civilians receiving combat decorations, that's all I was trying to say, plus, I always found it a really fascinating story besides, honest, many thanks....
James J. Andrews - Wikipedia
Posted from en.wikipedia.org
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
Capt Daniel Goodman
>1 y
Yeah, I did think that one kinda nifty, you know? Any thoughts about whether you think he might've deserved it sufficiently, to try to maybe see if it could be allowed at all? I realize it's kind of an oddball question certainly, as I'd said, I just tend to have a rather eclectic interest in such little historical oddities, you know?
(2)
Reply
(0)
PVT Mark Zehner
>1 y
Capt Daniel Goodman in my opinion most times I'd say know but with his accomplishments I got to go with award this to his family! He deserves the recognition
(0)
Reply
(0)
Posted >1 y ago
Thanks for sharing this, it is quite interesting....
(4)
Comment
(0)
Capt Daniel Goodman
>1 y
Yeah, I did actually, as I'd said, find that unusual to say the least, you know? You think it might be worth trying to point out to see if it could be fixed at all? Would you think it possibly justifiable at all? I realize, as I'd said, it's been over 150 yrs., of course, I'd just wondered, as I tend to like such little historical projects and/or conundrums, that was all, no rush, I'd be most eager for your thoughts, whenever you might have time, obviously, many thanks....
(1)
Reply
(0)
Posted >1 y ago
Andrews was indeed denied the MOH due to his civilian status. That other civilians were awarded it just shows the inconsistency with which the Medal of Honor has been awarded over the years.
For an interesting and complete account of the Andrews Raid/Great Locomotive Chase, try obtaining "The Great Locomotive Chase: The Andrews Raid 1962" (Raid 5) by Gordon L. Rottman, Osprey Publishing, 2009. Lots of great information and many obscure period photos, as well as what happened after the raid.
For an interesting and complete account of the Andrews Raid/Great Locomotive Chase, try obtaining "The Great Locomotive Chase: The Andrews Raid 1962" (Raid 5) by Gordon L. Rottman, Osprey Publishing, 2009. Lots of great information and many obscure period photos, as well as what happened after the raid.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Capt Daniel Goodman
>1 y
I follow, I'll find it, one of those who survived, William Pittenger, I think, got a battlefield commission after the raid, and wrote an account of it in a book on http://www.Gutenberg.org, just look it up, you can download it in various formats for free, I went through it, the interesting aspect was, though I'll find the one you mentioned as well, he was actually there, as part of it, that's why I'm suggesting it...I just really thought he might deserve retroactive posthumous reconsideration, given the whole circumstances, just a thought, I'd be most eager to know what you might think, no rush, whenever convenient, many thanks....
Project Gutenberg offers free ebooks to download.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Read This Next