Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Fred Stewart Hay received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 9, 1874 at Upper Wichita River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry. Hay was about 24 years old.
11 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 23, 1875. He later rose to the rank of Drum Major, ret..
Hay was born in 1850 in Stirlingshire, Scotland — one of 41 recipients born in Scotland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas. Hay died on January 14, 1914 in Highlands, New Jersey, at the age of about 64. He is buried at Bayview Cemetery in Leonardo, New Jersey. His medal is held by The Tropic Lightning Museum, Wheeler Army Airfield (1904 design), Schofield Barracks, HI. Records also list him as Schwabe, Frederick H..
Hay is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 31 credited to Kansas.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Gallantry in action.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
From the archives
Fred S. Hay was born as Frederick H. Schwabe.
Timeline
- 1850Born in Stirlingshire, Scotland
- September 9, 1874Act of valor — Upper Wichita River, TexasAge about 24. Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry
- April 23, 1875Medal of Honor presented
- January 14, 1914Died in Highlands, New JerseyAge about 64.
- Resting placeBayview CemeteryLeonardo, New Jersey