Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

John A. Kirkwood

Sergeant John A. Kirkwood, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 9, 1876 in Slim Buttes, Dakota Territory during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns September 9, 1876

Sergeant John A. Kirkwood, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 9, 1876 in Slim Buttes, Dakota Territory during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company M, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Kirkwood was 24 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 16, 1877.

Kirkwood was born on October 29, 1851 in Allegheny City, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to North Platte Barracks, Lincoln County, Nebraska. Kirkwood died on May 10, 1930 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 78. He is buried at Soldier's Home National Cemetery in Washington, District of Columbia. His medal is held by Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum (1904 design), Pittsburgh, PA.

Kirkwood is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 20 credited to Nebraska.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Bravely endeavored to dislodge some Sioux Indians secreted in a ravine.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Great Sioux War of 1876.

Places

  • Born: Allegheny — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Nebraska →

Timeline

  1. October 29, 1851
    Born in Allegheny City, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
  2. September 9, 1876
    Act of valor — Slim Buttes, Dakota Territory
    Age 24. Company M, 3d U.S. Cavalry
  3. October 16, 1877
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 10, 1930
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 78.
  5. Resting place
    Soldier's Home National Cemetery
    Washington, District of Columbia

Biography

John A. Kirkwood (October 29, 1851 – May 11, 1930) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.

From the Wikipedia article “John A. Kirkwood”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 9, 1876

RS Robert Smith Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

Same unit

AG Albert Glavinski Blacksmith · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 Jeremiah J. Murphy Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 ES Elmer A. Snow Trumpeter · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Nebraska

William Frederick "buffalo bill" Cody Guide · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 FL Frank W. Lohnes Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1865 CC Co-Rux-Te-Chod-Ish (Mad Bear) Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869
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.