The first Black recipient of the Medal of Honor was Army Sgt. William H. Carney. He earned the honor for protecting one of the United States' greatest symbols during the Civil War, the American flag. Carney was born into slavery on February 29, 1840, in Norfolk Virginia. Although a handful of other Black service members had already received the medal, Carney’s award celebrated an earlier action. He was one of many Civil War-era honorees to be granted the medal decades later. Although he was born into slavery, Carney's family relocated to Massachusetts (reports vary on whether they were freed or escaped).
Despite laws banning Blacks from receiving basic education, William secretly got involved in academics because of his eagerness to learn. He had wanted to go into ministry, but when the Civil War broke out in 1863, he decided that the best way to serve God was to serve his people by joining the Union Army. "I had a strong inclination to prepare myself for the ministry; but when the country called for all persons, I could best serve my God by serving my country and my oppressed brothers,” Carney wrote in 1863. “The sequel is short— 'I enlisted for the war.'"
At age 23, Carney heeded the call for African Americans to join a local militia unit and enlisted in March 1863. Carney joined the Union Army as part of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment, the first Black regiment from the North to serve in the war. His unit, included two sons of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Their first combat mission was leading the charge on Fort Wagner in Charleston, South Carolina. On July 18th, 1863, Carney’s regiment became part of that major combat mission. Col. Robert Gould Shaw led the charge on Fort Wagner.
The Battle of Fort Wagner was one of the bloodiest battles, killing around 1500 Black troop members. Col. Shaw was shot to death as he reached the summit. Carney himself was badly wounded and was lying near Col. Shaw’s body when he saw an American soldier bearing the American flag falter. In a Civil War unit, it was considered an honor to be the flag bearer; only the bravest and most respected individuals held this position. He rushed to catch the flag from him before it hit the ground.
Carney kept the symbol of the Union held high as he crawled up the hill to the walls of Fort Wagner, urging his fellow troops to follow him. He planted the flag in the sand at the base of the fort and held it upright until his near-lifeless body was rescued. When the Union Army finally retreated to the beach on Morris Island, an exhausted Sergeant Carney stumbled back into camp to report “Boys, I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground!” After saying this, he fell to the ground.
The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was widely hailed for its bravery. This inspired many young Black men to join the Union Army. Carney recovered from his wounds and people started talking about his heroic acts during the war. When his commander heard about this, he was promoted to sergeant. In the Battle of Olustee, the 54th Massachusetts fought again, but Carney was not able to participate because of the lingering effects of his wounds. Carney’s injuries resulted in an honorable discharge from the Army on June 30, 1864.
He returned to Massachusetts, where he worked for the postal service and as a messenger at the Massachusetts State House. Almost four decades after the battle of Fort Wagner, in May, 1900, Sergeant Carney received the Medal of Honor for his gallant actions. He was the first African-American to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Carney is one of twenty-six African Americans to receive the medal for service during the Civil War. Though by that time several other Black Americans had already received the award for heroism during the Civil War.
Sergeant Carney's action at Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863, was the first to merit the award. As a self-liberated man, Sergeant William H. Carney knew that fighting for the freedom of others could come at the cost of his own freedom. The incredible valor he displayed under fire, planting the flag atop the walls of the fort and safeguarding its return to Union lines despite several wounds will always be remembered. The Medal of Honor awarded to him reflects his courageous and meritorious actions that went above and beyond the call of duty.