Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant John H. Foley received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 26, 1872 at Loupe Fork of the Platte River, Nebraska during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Foley was about 33 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 22, 1872.
Foley was born in 1839 in Cork, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Foley died on November 18, 1874 in Benicia Barracks, California, at the age of about 35. He is buried at Benicia Barracks Post Cemetery in Benicia Barracks, California.
Foley 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 action.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Indian Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- 1839Born in Cork, Ireland
- April 26, 1872Act of valor — Loupe Fork of the Platte River, NebraskaAge about 33. Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry
- May 22, 1872Medal of Honor presented
- November 18, 1874Died in Benicia Barracks, CaliforniaAge about 35.
- Resting placeBenicia Barracks Post CemeteryBenicia Barracks, California
Biography
Sergeant John H. Foley (1839 – November 18, 1874) was an Irish-born soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 3rd U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars. He was one of four men received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in leading an attack against the Sioux Indians near Loupe Fork of the Platte River in Nebraska on April 26, 1872.
From the Wikipedia article “John H. Foley”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
