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Captain · U.S. Army

John Brown Kerr

Captain John Brown Kerr, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on January 1, 1891 at White River, South Dakota during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns January 1, 1891

Captain John Brown Kerr, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on January 1, 1891 at White River, South Dakota during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with 6th U.S. Cavalry. Kerr was 43 years old.

5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 25, 1891. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

Kerr was born on March 12, 1847 in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky. His Medal of Honor is credited to Hutchison Station, Bourbon County, Kentucky. Kerr died on February 27, 1928 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 80. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Kerr is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 44 credited to Kentucky.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For distinguished bravery while in command of his troop in action against hostile Sioux Indians on the north bank of the White River, near the mouth of Little Grass Creek, S. Dak., where he defeated a force of 300 Brule Sioux warriors, and turned the Sioux tribe, which was endeavoring to enter the Bad Lands, back into the Pine Ridge Agency.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Philippine–American War, American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Lexington — map
  • Died: Garfield Hospital — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Kentucky →

Timeline

  1. March 12, 1847
    Born in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
  2. January 1, 1891
    Act of valor — White River, South Dakota
    Age 43. 6th U.S. Cavalry
  3. April 25, 1891
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. February 27, 1928
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 80.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

John Brown Kerr (March 12, 1847 – February 27, 1928) was a United States Army Brigadier General who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in fighting Indians along the White River, South Dakota.

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

Also honored for actions on January 1, 1891

Benjamin Harrison Cheever Jr. First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 Robert Lee Howze Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 JK Joseph F. Knight Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 FM Fred Myers Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 Cornelius Cole Smith First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891

Same unit

William Harding Carter First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881 Thomas Cruse Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882 John Thomas Kennedy Second Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909 Archie Miller First Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909 Frank West First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882 Arthur Harrison Wilson Second Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Kentucky

PW Patton George Whitehead Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 RM Robert McDonald First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 TS Thomas W. Stivers Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 ✦ WD William L. Day First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 WM William W. Morris Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 WJ William H. Jones Farrier · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877
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.