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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Joseph H. Decastro

Corporal Joseph H. Decastro, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 3, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Joseph H. Decastro received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 19th Massachusetts Infantry. Decastro was 18 years old.

30 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. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Decastro was born on November 14, 1844 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Decastro died on May 8, 1892 in New York, New York, at the age of 47. He is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Newark, New Jersey.

Decastro is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag of 19th Virginia regiment (C.S.A.).

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

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Joseph H. Decastro received:

Civil War Campaign Medal

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Battle of Gettysburg

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Boston — map
  • Died: New York City — map
  • Buried: Fairmount Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. November 14, 1844
    Born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
  2. July 3, 1863
    Act of valor — Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
    Age 18. Company I, 19th Massachusetts Infantry
  3. December 6, 1864
    Medal of Honor presented
    By Major General George G. Meade, at a review of the 2nd Army Corps Headquarters, Peebles' House, near Petersburg, Va.
  4. May 8, 1892
    Died in New York, New York
    Age 47.
  5. Resting place
    Fairmount Cemetery
    Newark, New Jersey

Biography

Joseph H. De Castro (November 14, 1844 – May 8, 1892) was the first Hispanic American to be awarded the United States's highest military decoration for valor in combat—the Medal of Honor—for having distinguished himself during Pickett's Charge in the Battle of Gettysburg of the American Civil War.

From the Wikipedia article “Joseph H. De Castro”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on July 3, 1863

EB Elijah William Bacon Private · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ George Greenville Benedict Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 MB Morris Brown Jr. Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ HC Hugh Carey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ JC John E. Clopp Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Alonzo H. Cushing First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ GD George H. Dore Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Benjamin Frank Falls Color Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ CF Christopher Flynn Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Frederick W. Fuger Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 William B. Hincks Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1863 Benjamin H. Jellison Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 31 recipients for July 3, 1863 →

Same unit

JA John Gregory bishop Adams Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1862

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

Charles N. Gardner Private · Army Civil War · 1865 TL Thomas G. Lyons Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 Peter Grace Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 CH Conrad Homan Color Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JS Joseph Alton Sladen Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JH James Horton Gunner's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864
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.