Private Jacob Parrot (17 July 1843,Fairfield County, Ohio-1908,Hardin County, Ohio), Company K, 33rd Ohio Infantry was the first recipcient of the Medal of Honor.
Background
Jacob Parrott joined the US Army at the beginning of the American Civil War.In April 1862, he was tasked to take part in a daring raid with 21 others (later known as "Andrews Raiders" because they operated under the direct command of James Andrews).After infiltrating the enemy lines and capture the locomotive "The General", they were all captured and imprisoned.Parrot and 14 others managed to escape, but only 6 of them reached friendly lines.He served with the Union Army for the rest of the war and retired as a Lieutenant.
Citation
One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell) penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta.