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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Musician · U.S. Army

John Baker

Musician John Baker, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 21, 1876 at Cedar Creek, etc., Montana during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns October 21, 1876Born in Germany

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Musician John Baker received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 21, 1876 at Cedar Creek, etc., Montana during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company D, 5th U.S. Infantry. Baker was about 23 years old.

29 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 18, 1877.

Baker was born in 1853 in Hessen, Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.

Baker is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in engagements.

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

Timeline

  1. 1853
    Born in Hessen, Germany
  2. October 21, 1876
    Act of valor — Cedar Creek, etc., Montana
    Age about 23. Company D, 5th U.S. Infantry
  3. July 18, 1877
    Medal of Honor presented

Also honored for actions on October 21, 1876

RB Richard Burke Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 DB Denis Byrne Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JC Joseph A. Cable Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JC James Spencer Calvert Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 AC Aquilla Coonrod Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JD John S. Donelly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 CF Christopher Freemeyer Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JH John Haddoo Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 HH Henry Hogan Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 DH David Holland Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 EJ Edward Johnston Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 PK Philip Kennedy Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

See all 30 recipients for October 21, 1876 →

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

JM James McNally First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 WF William H. Folly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 William McBryar Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890 WO William O'Neill Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 Thaddeus Brown Glover Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1880 HF Hermann Emil Fichter Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1871
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.