Buried at Wood National Cemetery Awards Medal of Honor Died March 27, 1913 | Name James L. Rank Ordinary Seaman | |
Born July 6, 1845
Frankfort Mineral Springs, Pennsylvania ( 1845-07-06 ) Allegiance United States of America Place of burial Wood National Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | ||
Service/branch United States Navy | ||
Ordinary Seaman James K. L. Duncan (July 6, 1845 to March 27, 1913) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Duncan received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action aboard the USS Fort Hindman on 2 March 1864. He was honored with the award on 31 December 1864.
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Biography
Duncan was born in Frankfort Mineral Springs in Pennsylvania on 6 July 1845. Duncan attended Monmouth College with the class of 1866 but did not return to college after leaving to join the civil war fighting for the north. He enlisted into the U.S. Navy. He died on 27 March 1913 and his remains are interred at the Wood National Cemetery in Wisconsin.
Medal of Honor citation
Served on board the U.S.S. Fort Hindman during the engagement near Harrisonburg, Louisiana, 2 March 1864. Following a shellburst at one of the guns which started a fire at the cartridge tie, Ordinary Seaman Duncan immediately seized the burning cartridge, took it from the gun and threw it overboard, despite the immediate danger to himself. Carrying out his duties through the entire engagement, Duncan served courageously during this action in which the Fort Hindman was raked severely with shot and shell from the enemy guns.