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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Musician · U.S. Army

John S. Kountz

Musician John S. Kountz, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 25, 1863 at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War November 25, 1863

Musician John S. Kountz was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 25, 1863 at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 37th Ohio Infantry. Kountz was 18 years old.

15 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 13, 1895, 31 years after the action.

Kountz was born on March 25, 1845 in Maumee, Lucas County, Ohio. Kountz died on June 14, 1909, at the age of 64. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio.

Kountz is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Seized a musket and joined in the charge in which he was severely wounded.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Seized a musket and joined in the charge in which he was severely wounded.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: musician

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Richfield — map
  • Buried: Calvary Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. March 25, 1845
    Born in Maumee, Lucas County, Ohio
  2. November 25, 1863
    Act of valor — Missionary Ridge, Tennessee
    Age 18. Company G, 37th Ohio Infantry
  3. August 13, 1895
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 14, 1909
    Died
    Age 64.
  5. Resting place
    Calvary Cemetery
    Toledo, Ohio

Biography

John S. Kountz (March 25, 1846 – June 14, 1909) was a soldier in the United States Army during the American Civil War. He received a Medal of Honor.

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

Further reading

Also honored for actions on November 25, 1863

George Lovell Banks Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JB James Bennett Bell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Henry Van ness Boynton Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 CB Charles W. Brouse Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 Robert Bruce Brown Private · Army Civil War · 1863 FD Freeman Davis Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Thomas N. Graham Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 George Green Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Hiram Reese Howard Private · Army Civil War · 1863 RJ Ruel M. Johnson Major · Army Civil War · 1863 SJ Simeon T. Josselyn First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 Leverett Mansfield Kelley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 16 recipients for November 25, 1863 →

Same unit

ET Ernest R. Torgler Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

HC Henry Capehart Colonel · Army Civil War · 1864 HD Harry Clay Davis Private · Army Civil War · 1864 Henry Blanchard Freeman First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862 JH Joseph S. Hedges First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 William M. Houlton Commissary Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CA Christian Albert Private · Army Civil War · 1863
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.