Private James Kephart, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 19, 1863 in Vicksburg, Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 13th U.S. Infantry. Kephart was 21 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 13, 1899, 35 years after the action.
Kephart was born on April 22, 1842 in Venango County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa. Kephart died on April 27, 1932 in Gooding, Idaho, at the age of 90. He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Gooding, Idaho.
Kephart is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 55 credited to Iowa.
Official Medal of Honor citation
At the assault on the Confederate works at Vicksburg, Miss., May 19, 1863, Mr. Kephart then a private of Company C, 1st Battalion, 13th U.S. Infantry, voluntarily and at the risk of his life, when the Battalion was about to retreat, returned, and under a severe fire of the enemy, aided and assisted to the rear an officer who had been severely wounded and left on the field, thereby saving him from capture.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Elmwood Cemetery — map
Timeline
- April 22, 1842Born in Venango County, Pennsylvania
- May 19, 1863Act of valor — Vicksburg, MississippiAge 21. Company C, 1st Battalion, 13th U.S. Infantry
- May 13, 1899Medal of Honor presented
- April 27, 1932Died in Gooding, IdahoAge 90.
- Resting placeElmwood CemeteryGooding, Idaho
Biography
James Kephart (April 22, 1842 – April 27, 1932) was an American recipient of the Medal of Honor who earned the medal in action during the American Civil War.
From the Wikipedia article “James Kephart”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
