John Ward (Medal of Honor recipient)
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| John Ward | |
|---|---|
| 1848 – 1911 | |
| Place of birth | Arkansas |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | U.S. Army Indian Scouts, 24th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Indian Wars |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
John Ward (1848 – 1911) was a Black Seminole who served as a United States Army Indian Scout and received America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.
Ward enlisted in the Army at Fort Duncan, Texas, and joined other Black Seminoles known as the "Seminole Negro Indian Scouts". On April 25, 1875, he was serving as a Sergeant of the 24th Infantry Regiment by the Pecos River in Texas where, "[w]ith 3 other men, he participated in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting patrol." A month later, on May 28, 1875, Ward was issued the Medal of Honor for his actions during the engagement. Two of the other men who took part in the charge, Pompey Factor and Isaac Payne, both Black Seminoles, also received Medals of Honor.
Ward died at age 62 or 63 and was buried at the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery in Brackettville, Texas.
[edit] See also
- List of African American Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Native American Medal of Honor recipients
[edit] References
- John Ward (1847 - 1911). Find a Grave (2000-10-27). Retrieved on January 15, 2007.
- Indian War Period Medal of Honor Recipients. Medal of Honor Citations. U.S. Army Center of Military History (2005-04-19). Retrieved on January 15, 2007.
