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Sergeant · U.S. Army

John Ward

Sergeant John Ward, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 25, 1875 at Pecos River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns.

Sergeant John Ward was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 25, 1875 at Pecos River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Indian Scouts, 24th U.S. Infantry. Ward was about 28 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 28, 1875.

Ward was born in 1847 in Arkansas. His Medal of Honor is credited to Fort Duncan, Maverick County, Texas. Ward died on May 24, 1911 in Brackettsville, Texas, at the age of about 64. He is buried at Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery in Brackettville, Texas. Records also list him as Warrior, John.

Ward is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 78 credited to Texas.

Official Medal of Honor citation

With three other men, he participated in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting patrol.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Indian Wars.

Places

  • Born: Arkansas — map
  • Died: Texas — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Texas →

Timeline

  1. 1847
    Born in Arkansas
  2. April 25, 1875
    Act of valor — Pecos River, Texas
    Age about 28. Indian Scouts, 24th U.S. Infantry
  3. May 28, 1875
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 24, 1911
    Died in Brackettsville, Texas
    Age about 64.
  5. Resting place
    Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery
    Brackettville, Texas

Biography

John Ward (1847 or 1848 – March 24, 1911) was a Black Seminole who served as a United States Army Indian Scout and received America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.

From the Wikipedia article “John Ward (American soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 25, 1875

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Texas

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.