Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private John N. Opel received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 5, 1864 at Wilderness Campaign, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 7th Indiana Infantry. Opel was 20 years old.
13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 6, 1864 — by Major General George G. Meade, at a review of the 2nd Army Corps Headquarters, Peebles' House, near Petersburg, Va.
Opel was born on July 30, 1843 in Hoflas, Bavaria, Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to Rossburg, Decatur County, Indiana. Opel died on February 21, 1925 in Cora, Missouri, at the age of 81. He is buried at Mount Zion Cemetery in Milan, Missouri.
Opel is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Capture of flag of 50th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- July 30, 1843Born in Hoflas, Bavaria, Germany
- May 5, 1864Act of valor — Wilderness Campaign, VirginiaAge 20. Company G, 7th Indiana Infantry
- December 6, 1864Medal of Honor presentedBy Major General George G. Meade, at a review of the 2nd Army Corps Headquarters, Peebles' House, near Petersburg, Va.
- February 21, 1925Died in Cora, MissouriAge 81.
- Resting placeMount Zion CemeteryMilan, Missouri
