Unmarked grave of Irish Medal of Honor winner is uncovered in Illinois

Civil War hero at last finds recognition as ceremony planned for 2012

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The Medal of Honor

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The unmarked and forgotten grave of an Irish-born Medal of Honor recipient has been found.

The graves of Martin McHugh, a Civil War hero, and his wife Catherine were discovered in Danville, Illinois, 120 miles from Chicago after the determined efforts of local Irish American woman Machelle Long, according to Commercial News.

The Medal of Honor is the only U.S. military award that is worn from a ribbon hung around the neck and the only award presented by the president in the name of Congress. It is the greatest award given to American fighting heroes. More Medal of Honor recipients have been from Ireland than from any other foreign country.

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McHugh was born in Ireland in 1837 just before the famine, probably in Donegal, and came to America after the the Great Hunger drove him out.

He joined the Union side in the civil war and served on board the USS Cincinnati.

His medal of honor citation, which mistakenly stated he was born in Ohio, reads: “The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Seaman Martin McHugh, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving on board the U.S.S. Cincinnati during the attack on the Vicksburg (Mississippi) batteries and at the time of her sinking, 27 May 1863. 

"Engaging the enemy in a fierce battle, the Cincinnati amidst, an incessant fire of shot and shell, continued to fire her guns to the last, though so penetrated by shellfire that her fate was sealed. Serving bravely during this action, Seaman McHugh was conspicuously cool under the fire of the enemy, never ceasing to fire until this proud ship went down, 'her colors nailed to the mast.'

"General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 17 (July 10, 1863)
Action Date: May 27, 1863
Service: Navy
Rank: Seaman
Division: U.S.S. Cincinnati"

Long told the local Danville Commercial News that she was first tipped off when Ray Johnston, a member of a Medal of Honor research group, called looking for any information on McHugh.

Long, a 16-year employee of the Department of Records in Danville, immediately began the research. She found various versions of his name and traced his ancestors and his descendants.

“I could have given up when I couldn’t locate a record of his burial,” she said. “But I felt driven to dig deeper.”

She had the support of her boss Vermilion County Clerk Lynn Foster, to discover all she could.

“I felt that since Martin McHugh had apparently gone well beyond his duty in serving our country, that we should take those extra steps necessary to find and honor him,” Foster said.

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