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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Alexander A. Forman

Corporal Alexander A. Forman, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 31, 1862 in Fair Oaks, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 31, 1862

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Alexander A. Forman received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 31, 1862 in Fair Oaks, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with CompanyC, 7th Michigan Infantry. Forman was 19 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 17, 1895, 33 years after the action.

Forman was born on January 14, 1843 in Scipio Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Jonesville, Hillsdale County, Michigan. Forman died on March 3, 1922 in Rockville Centre, New York, at the age of 79. He is buried at Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Forman is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 112 credited to Michigan.

★ Wounded but Fought On

Official Medal of Honor citation

Although wounded, he continued fighting until, fainting from loss of blood, he was carried off the field.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Although wounded, he continued fighting until, fainting from loss of blood, he was carried off the field.

Battles and campaigns

1862 · Civil War

Battle of Seven Pines

Result: Inconclusive

3 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Scipio Township — map
  • Died: Brooklyn — map
  • Buried: Cypress Hills Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →

Timeline

  1. January 14, 1843
    Born in Scipio Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan
  2. May 31, 1862
    Act of valor — Fair Oaks, Virginia
    Age 19. CompanyC, 7th Michigan Infantry
  3. August 17, 1895
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 3, 1922
    Died in Rockville Centre, New York
    Age 79.
  5. Resting place
    Cypress Hills Cemetery
    Brooklyn, New York

Biography

Alexander Aberdeen Forman (January 14, 1843 – March 3, 1922) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Forman received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Seven Pines in Virginia on May 31, 1862. He was honored with the award on August 17, 1895.

From the Wikipedia article “Alexander Aberdeen Forman”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 31, 1862

Samuel S. French Private · Army Civil War · 1862 HP Hiram W. Purcell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 William Rufus Shafter First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Michigan

Moses Augustine Luce Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Sidney Haight Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Joseph S. Keen Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 WW William Henry Ward Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 CT Charles M. Thatcher Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Frank Dwight Baldwin Captain · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.