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The
Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded by the President in the name
of Congress to a person who, while a member of the Armed Forces, distinguishes
himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the
risk of his life or her life above and beyond the call of duty while
engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while
engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing
foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged
in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the
United States is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must
have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous
as to clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must
have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance
of the service will be exacted and each recommendation for the award
of this decoration will be considered on the standard of extraordinary
merit.
The
following Buffalo Soldiers and their officers were awarded the Medal
of Honor for their service during the Indian Wars or the Spanish American
War.
9th Cavalry Medal of Honor Winners
Sgt. Thomas Boyne, Indian Campaigns- for holding position on two occasions,
May 19, 1879, in the Nimbres Mountains of New Mexico and September
27, 1879, at Cuchillo, New Mexico, in battles against Indians.
Second Lieutenant, George R. Burnett Place and date: At Cuchillo Negro
Mountains, N. Mex., 16 August 1881. Entered service at: Spring Mills,
Pa. Birth. Lower Providence Township Pa. Date of issue: 23 July 1897.
Citation. Saved the life of a dismounted soldier, who was in imminent
danger of being cut off, by alone galloping quickly to his assistance
under heavy fire and escorting him to a place of safety, his horse
being twice shot in this action.
Second Lieutenant Matthias W. Day Place and date: At Las Animas Canyon,
N. Mex., 18 September 1879. Entered service at: Oberlin, Ohio. Birth:
Mansfield, Ohio. Date of issue: 7 May 1890. Citation: Advanced alone
into the enemy's lines and carried off a wounded soldier of his command
under a hot fire and after he had been ordered to retreat.
Sgt. John Denny, Indian Campaigns- for carrying a wounded comrade
to safety under fire at Las Animas Canyon, New Mexico, September 18,
1879
Second Lieutenant Robert Temple Emmet. Place and Date: At Las Animas
Canyon, N. Mex, 18 Sep 1879. Inducted: New York, N.Y. Born: New York,
N.Y. Date of issue 24 Aug 1899. Citation: Lt. Emmet was in G Troop
which was sent to relieve a detachment of soldiers under attack by
hostile Apaches During a flank attack on the Indian camp, made to
divert the hostiles Lt. Emmet and 5 of his men became surrounded when
the Indians returned to defend their camp. Finding that the Indians
were making for a position from which they could direct their fire
on the retreating troop, the Lt held his point with his party until
the soldiers reached the safety of a canyon. Lt. Emmet then continued
to hold his position while his party recovered their horses. The enemy
force consisted of approximately 200.
Captain Francis S. Dodge, Troop D. Action: Near White River Agency,
Colo., 29 September 1879. Entered service at: Danvers, Mass. Born:
11 September 1842, Danvers, Mass. Date of issue: 2 April 1898. Citation:
With a force of 40 men rode all night to the relief of a command that
had been defeated and was besieged by an overwhelming force of Indians,
reached the field at daylight, joined in the action and fought for
3 days.
Cpl. Clinton Greaves, Indian Campaigns- for gallantry in hand-to-hand
fighting with Indians at Florida Mountains, New Mexico, June 24, 1877
Sgt. Henry Johnson, Indian Campaigns- at Milk City, Colorado on October
2-5, 1879, "Sergeant Johnson voluntarily left the fortified shelter
and under heavy fire at close range made the rounds of the pits to
instruct the guards; fought his way to the creek and back to bring
water to the wounded."
Sgt. George Jordan, Indian Campaigns-twice recognized for unusual
heroism: May 14, 1880 lead 25 man force which repulsed over 100 Indians
at Carrizo Canyon, New Mexico and on August 12, 1881 held position
against superior numbers of enemy.
Sgt. Thomas Shaw, Indian Campaigns- for heroism in action at Carrizo
Canyon, New Mexico, August 12, 1881
Sgt. Emanuel Stance, Indian Campaigns- for gallantry displayed as
an Indian Scout, May 20, 1870, Kickapoo Springs, Texas. Stance was
the first African-American recipient of the Medal of Honor during
the Indian War era.
Pvt. Agustus Walley, Indian Campaigns- for action in an engagement
against Apaches, Cuchillo Negro Mountains, New Mexico August 16, 1881
(Recommendation for second MOH for service during Spanish-American
War). Walley is buried near his hometown of Reisterstown. Maryland.
1st Sgt. Moses Williams, Co I, Action: At foothills of the Cuchillo
Negro Mountains, N. Mex, 16 Aug 1881. Born: Carrollton, La. Issued:
12 Nov 1896. Citation: Rallied a detachment, skillfully conducted
a running flght of 3 or 4 hours, and by his coolness, bravery, and
unflinching devotion to duty in standing by his commanding officer
in an exposed position under a heavy fire from a large party of Indians
saved the lives of at least 3 of his comrades.
Cpl. William O. Wilson, Citation: for bravery during the Sioux campaign
in 1890. Action: Sioux Campaign, 1890. Inducted: St. Paul, Minn. Born:
Hagerstown, Md. Issued: 17 Sep 1891.
Sgt. Brent Wood, Co B, Action: New Mexico, 19 Aug 1881. Inducted:
Louisville, Ky. Born: Pulaski County, Ky. Issued: 12 Jul 1894. Citation:
Saved the lives of his comrades and citizens of the detachment.
10th
Cavalry Medal of Honor Winners
Captain Louis H. Carpenter, Company H. Actions: At Indian campaigns
in Kansas and Colorado, September October 1868. Entered service at:
Philadelphia, Pa. Birth: Glassboro, N.J. Date of issue 8 April 1898.
Citation: Was gallant and meritorious throughout the campaigns, especially
in the combat of October 15 and in the forced March on September 23,
24 and 25 to the relief of Forsyth's Scouts, who were known to be
in danger of annihilation by largely superior forces of Indians.
Sgt Mjr Edward L. Baker, (later promoted to Second Lt.) Spanish-American
War- for leaving cover, and under fire, rescued a wounded comrade
from drowning, July 1, 1898
Second Lieutenant Powhattan H. Clarke, Company K Place and date: At
Pinito Mountains, Sonora, Mex., 3 May 1886. Entered service at: Baltimore,
Md. Birth: Alexandria, La. Date of issue: 12 March 1891. Citation:
Rushed forward to the rescue of a soldier who was severely wounded
and lay, disabled, exposed to the enemy's fire, and carried him to
a place of safety...
Pvt Dennis Bell, Spanish-American War- for voluntarily going ashore
in Toyabacoa, Cuba, in the face of the enemy and rescuing wounded
comrades, June 30, 1898
Pvt. Fitz Lee, Spanish-American War- for voluntarily going ashore
in Toyabacoa, Cuba, in the face of the enemy and rescuing wounded
comrades, June 30, 1898
Sgt. William McBryar, Indian Campaigns- for bravery in battle with
Apache Indians in Arizona Territory, May 15, 1890
Sgt. William Tompkins, Spanish-American War- for voluntarily going
ashore in Toyabacoa, Cuba, in the face of the enemy and rescuing wounded
comrades, June 30, 1898
Pvt. George H. Wanton, Spanish-American War- for voluntarily going
ashore in Toyabacoa, Cuba, in the face of the enemy and rescuing wounded
comrades, June 30, 1898�.
24th
Infantry Medal of Honor Winners
Sgt. Benjamin Brown, Indian Campaigns- for defending the Regimental
Payroll from robbers, wounded in the abdomen and both arms, near Ft.
Thomas, Arizona May 11, 1889
Cpl. Isaiah Mays, Co B. Action: Arizona, 11 May 1889. Inducted: Columbus
Barracks, Ohio. Born 16 Feb 1858, Carters Bridge, Va. Issued: 19 Feb
1890. Citation: Gallantry in the fight between Paymaster Wham's escort
and robbers. Mays walked and crawled 2 miles to a ranch for help.
Cpl. Mays is buried in the old section of the cemetary at the Veterans
Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
41st
Infantry Medal of Honor Winners
(The 41st and 38th Infantry were reorganized to form the 24th Infantry
in the fall of 1869.)
First Lieutenant George E. Albee, Action : At Brazos River, Tex.,
28 October 1869. Entered service at: Owatonna, Minn. Birth: Lisbon,
N.H. Date of issue: 18 January 1894. Citation: Attacked with 2 men
a force of 11 Indians, drove them from the hills, and reconnoitered
the country beyond.
Seminole
Indian Scouts
Pvt. Pompey Factor, Seminole Indian Scouts- At Pecos River, Tex, 25
Apr 1875. Born: Arkansas. Issued: 28 May 1875. Citation: With 3 other
men, he participated in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting
patrol. Pvt. Factor is buried in the Seminole Cemetary near Bracketville,
Texas.
Pvt. Adam Paine, Pvt, Indian Scouts. Action: Canyon Blanco tributary
of the Red River, Tex, 26-27 Sep 1874. Inducted: Fort Duncan, Texas.
Born: Florida. Issued: 13 Oct 1875. Citation: Rendered invaluable
service to Col. R. S. Mackenzie, 4th US Cavalry, during this engagement.
Isaac Payne, Trumpeter, Indian Scouts. Action: At Pecos River, Tex,
25 Apr 1875. Born: Mexico. Issued: 28 May 1875. Citation: With 3 other
men, he participated in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting
patrol and Rescued commanding officer Lt. John Bullis
Sgt. John Ward, Seminole Indian Scouts- Indian Campaigns-Pecos River
Engagement April 25, 1875. Entered service at. Fort Duncan, Tex. Born:
Arkansas. Issued: 28 May 1875. Citation: With 3 other men, he participated
in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting patrol.
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