John Rush (February 21, 1837 – April 29, 1916) was a first class fireman in the Union Navy during the American Civil War, in which he earned the Medal of Honor.

Rush entered Service in the US Navy from Washington, D.C., and eventually rose to the rank of first class fireman during the Civil War.

The ship was hit and damaged by a 6-inch solid rifle shot which shattered the starboards safety-valve chamber and port safety valve as it rounded a bend beneath the fortifications.

Acting courageously in this crisis, Rush persisted in penetrating the steam-filled room in order to haul the hot fires of the furnaces, and continued this action until the gravity of the situation had been lessened.

[3]After the Civil War, Rush returned to his home in Washington, D.C., changed his name to Israel W. Little, and married his wife, Elizabeth Kearney Little.