James Carey (Medal of Honor)

James Carey was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor.

Biography
Carey was born in Ireland in either 1844 or 1847, depending on the source. He later served in the U.S. Navy, entering the service from New York. About the year 1870, while a member of the crew of USS Huron, he saved three fellow crewmen from drowning and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

The printed record provides no further details, and is therefore ambiguous about which ship was involved. There were two ships of the name Huron which served in the 19th century, neither of which was in service in 1870: USS Huron (1861), which was last in commission in October 1868, and USS Huron (1875), which was wrecked in November 1877.

Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1844, Ireland. Accredited to: New York.

Citation:

"Seaman on board the U.S.S. Huron, saving 3 shipmates from drowning."