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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

David Ryan

Private David Ryan, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 21, 1876 at Cedar Creek, etc., Montana during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns October 21, 1876Born in Ireland

Private David Ryan, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 21, 1876 at Cedar Creek, etc., Montana during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company G, 5th U.S. Infantry. Ryan was about 40 years old.

29 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 18, 1877. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Ryan was born in 1836 in County Kilkenny, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Ryan died on September 8, 1896 in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of about 60. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ryan is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in action.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Indian Wars.

Places

  • Born: County Kilkenny — map
  • Died: St. Louis — map
  • Buried: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. 1836
    Born in County Kilkenny, Ireland
  2. October 21, 1876
    Act of valor — Cedar Creek, etc., Montana
    Age about 40. Company G, 5th U.S. Infantry
  3. July 18, 1877
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 8, 1896
    Died in St. Louis, Missouri
    Age about 60.
  5. Resting place
    Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
    St. Louis, Missouri

Also honored for actions on October 21, 1876

JB John Baker Musician · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 RB Richard Burke Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 DB Denis Byrne Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JC Joseph A. Cable Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JC James Spencer Calvert Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 AC Aquilla Coonrod Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JD John S. Donelly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 CF Christopher Freemeyer Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JH John Haddoo Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 HH Henry Hogan Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 DH David Holland Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 EJ Edward Johnston Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

See all 30 recipients for October 21, 1876 →

Same unit

HH Henry Hogan First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Pennsylvania

John W. Comfort Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 HC Heth Canfield Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 ZW Zachariah Woodall Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 TS Theodore F. Smith Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 JM John May Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 MH Michael Himmelsback Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.