Serving as a contract surgeon with the U.S. Army, Contract Surgeon John Oscar Skinner received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 17, 1873 in Lava Beds, California during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with U.S. Army. Skinner was 27 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 6, 1915, 42 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Skinner was born on May 4, 1845 in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Maryland. Skinner died on September 12, 1932 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 87. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Skinner is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 85 credited to Maryland.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Rescued a wounded soldier who lay under a close and heavy fire during the assault on the Modoc stronghold after two soldiers had unsuccessfully attempted to make the rescue and both had been wounded in doing so.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map
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Timeline
- May 4, 1845Born in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland
- January 17, 1873Act of valor — Lava Beds, CaliforniaAge 27. U.S. Army
- April 6, 1915Medal of Honor presented
- September 12, 1932Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 87.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
John Oscar Skinner (May 4, 1845 – September 12, 1932) was an American physician who received the Medal of Honor for actions while a civilian contract surgeon serving with the U.S. Army on January 17, 1873, at Lava Beds, Oregon.
From the Wikipedia article “John O. Skinner”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
