Lincoln County, Maine

Marcus A. Hanna (1842-1921) was an American lighthouse keeper famous for his heroism.

Biography

Hanna was born in Bristol, Maine, the son of the keeper of the Franklin Island Light. He spent his early years at the station before going off to sea at the age of ten. By 18 he had risen to the position of ship's steward. When the American Civil War began, Hanna enlisted, serving in the Navy for one year before being mustered out. He spent the remainder of the war fighting with various volunteer regiments. He saw action in 1863 at Port Hudson, Louisiana while serving as a Sergeant with the 50th Massachusetts Infantry. During the engagement Hanna volunteered to carry water behind the lines to the remainder of his company. This was the heaviest action he was to see during the war.
Hanna was appointed keeper of the Pemaquid Point Light in 1869. In 1873 he was transferred to Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth, where he served as head lightkeeper. It was there, on January 28, 1885, that he saved two sailors from the schooner Australia which had wrecked on the rocks below the station.
Hanna was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal in 1885 for saving the two sailors. He also received the Medal of Honor in 1895, in recognition of his bravery at Port Hudson. Hanna is the only person in history to have received both awards.
In 1997 the United States Coast Guard named a Coastal buoy tender the USCGC Marcus Hanna (WLM-554). The Hanna is based in South Portland, Maine, near the site of Hanna's rescue of the sailors from the Australia.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company B, 50th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Port Hudson, La., July 4, 1863. Entered service at: Rockport, Mass. Born: November 3, 1842, Bristol, Maine. Date of issue: November 2, 1895.
Citation:
Voluntarily exposed himself to a heavy fire to get water for comrades in rifle pits.

(Source: Wikipedia)