Michael was born on the 4th of October, 1874 in Newmarket, Ireland and he enlisted in the US Marine Corps from Boston, Massachusetts in April of 1896. When he deployed to support the Spanish-American War, he was a Private on board the USS Nashville and since this ship has been mentioned in almost every citation of this conflict, I might as well talk a little about it.

The Nashville (PG-7) was the first of three ships from the US to have its name and this gunboat was the only ship of its class, commissioned on the 19th of August, 1897, two years after being launched in Newport News, Virginia. Once commissioned, she became part of the North Atlantic Fleet and is credited with firing the first shot of the Spanish-American War. A blank shot was fired across the bow of the Buena Vista and went on to capture four Spanish vessels between April and July 1898. She was also present when many sailors and Marines participated in cutting a submarine communications cable, also known as an undersea telegraph cable, earning many the Medal of Honor. She remained off the shore of Cuba until the end of the war and went on to deploy to China in support of the Boxer Rebellion, sailed to Mexico during the Occupation of Veracruz, and served in temporary duty during World War 1 as a convoy escort to North Africa. She arrived home in Charleston, South Carolina on the 1st of August, 1918 and was decommissioned on the 21st of October, 1918 and would never house 180 officers and enlisted on board again.

Now that we know a little more about the USS Nashville, let’s return to Michael and the actions that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Nashville during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Kearney set an example of extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.

Michael received his Medal of Honor on the 7th of July, 1899 and he remained in the Marine Corps, retiring at the rank of Captain in December of 1926 after thirty years of service. Michael Kearney died on the 21st of October, 1937 at the age of 63 and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York: St. Mary section, Plot 1332.