James H. Turpin – Medal of Honor, Indian Campaigns (1872)

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Sergeant James H. Turpin received the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1872 in Arizona Territory during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company L, 5th U.S. Cavalry. Turpin was about 26 years old.

The medal was presented on April 12, 1875, 3 years after the action.

Turpin was born in 1846 in Easton, Bristol County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Turpin died on May 30, 1893 in Denver, Colorado, at the age of about 47. He is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

Turpin is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in actions with Apaches.

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

Timeline

1846
Born in Easton, Bristol County, Massachusetts
1872
Act of valor — Arizona Territory
Age about 26. Company L, 5th U.S. Cavalry
April 12, 1875
Medal of Honor presented
May 30, 1893
Died in Denver, Colorado
Age about 47.
Resting place
Fairmount Cemetery
Denver, Colorado

Same unit

GD George Deary Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Massachusetts

Francis Safford Dodge Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 FT Frank Tolan Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

Jeremiah J. Murphy Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 SN Solon D. Neal Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 SB Samuel Bowden Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1870 HH Henry Holden Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.