branch birth_place allegiance unit awards placeofburial_label battles rank article_title name
union navy county cork , ireland united states of america union kearsarge 1861 medal of honor place of burial american -rrb- civil war * battle of cherbourg -lrb- 1864 paymaster 's steward michael aheam
 michael adams
michael aheam

michael aheam -lrb- or ahern -rrb- was an american sailor who received the medal of honor for valor in action during the american civil war .
aheam was illegally recruited in queenstown , ireland in november 1863 along with several others , and officially enlisted in the us navy from france .
he served as a paymaster 's steward aboard during her battle with the commerce raider on june 19 , 1864 off cherbourg , france .
his medal of honor citation -lrb- dated december 31 , 1864 -rrb- noted that he had been `` highly recommended '' by his divisional officer after `` carrying out his duties courageously '' and exhibiting `` gallantry under enemy fire '' with `` marked coolness and good conduct '' .
he was one of seventeen `` kearsarge '' sailors who received the medal for valor during this battle .
