Civil War Double Medal of Honor Recipient. One of only 19 United States servicemen to be awarded the Medal of Honor twice, and one of only 14 to be awarded the United States' highest military honor for two separate actions. His true name was John Laver Mather. He was serving as Coxswain in the United States Navy when he earn his first CMOH. The citation reads "On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite severe damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks from stem to stern, Cooper fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious battle which resulted in the surrender of the prize rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan". This Medal was awarded to him on December 31, 1864. The second citation reads "Served as quartermaster on Acting Rear Admiral Thatcher's staff. During the terrific fire at Mobile, on 26 April 1865, at the risk of being blown to pieces by exploding shells, Cooper advanced through the burning locality, rescued a wounded man from certain death, and bore him on his back to a place of safety". This medal was awarded on June 29, 1865.
Civil War Double Medal of Honor Recipient. One of only 19 United States servicemen to be awarded the Medal of Honor twice, and one of only 14 to be awarded the United States' highest military honor for two separate actions. His true name was John Laver Mather. He was serving as Coxswain in the United States Navy when he earn his first CMOH. The citation reads "On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite severe damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks from stem to stern, Cooper fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious battle which resulted in the surrender of the prize rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan". This Medal was awarded to him on December 31, 1864. The second citation reads "Served as quartermaster on Acting Rear Admiral Thatcher's staff. During the terrific fire at Mobile, on 26 April 1865, at the risk of being blown to pieces by exploding shells, Cooper advanced through the burning locality, rescued a wounded man from certain death, and bore him on his back to a place of safety". This medal was awarded on June 29, 1865.
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