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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Joseph L. Epps

Private Joseph L. Epps, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 4, 1899 in Vigan, Luzon, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection.

Philippine Insurrection December 4, 1899

Private Joseph L. Epps was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 4, 1899 in Vigan, Luzon, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with Company B, 33d Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Epps was 29 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 7, 1902, 2 years after the action.

Epps was born on May 16, 1870 in Jamestown, Moniteau County, Missouri. His Medal of Honor is credited to Oklahoma, (Indian Territory). Epps died on June 20, 1952, at the age of 82. He is buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Epps is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 25 credited to Oklahoma.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Discovered a party of insurgents inside a wall, climbed to the top of the wall, covered them with his gun, and forced them to stack arms and surrender.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Philippine–American War.

Places

  • Born: Jamestown — map
  • Died: Oklahoma — map
  • Buried: Greenhill Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Oklahoma →

From the archives

Additional information is available from Lt. Col. James Parker of the 45th Infantry's "Report on the Defense of Vigan, Luzon, P.I., December 4, 1899:"

"While searching the town for insurgents at the close of hte fight Private epps, Company B, Thirty-Third Infantry, asked Captain Van Way permission to search a particular house. Looking over a wall he discovered 17 insurgents armed, and mounting the wall he then covered them with his gun, forcing them to stack arms and surrender. When some surpise was expressed at this incident he replied, 'What else could they do? I had the drop on them.'"

Timeline

  1. May 16, 1870
    Born in Jamestown, Moniteau County, Missouri
  2. December 4, 1899
    Act of valor — Vigan, Luzon, Philippine Islands
    Age 29. Company B, 33d Infantry, U.S. Volunteers
  3. February 7, 1902
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 20, 1952
    Died
    Age 82.
  5. Resting place
    Green Hill Cemetery
    Muskogee, Oklahoma

Biography

Joseph L. Epps (May 16, 1870 – June 20, 1952) was a United States Army private who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 4, 1899, during the Philippine–American War. Epps is buried at Greenhill Cemetery in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

From the Wikipedia article “Joseph L. Epps”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on December 4, 1899

Webb Cook Hayes Lieutenant Colonel · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 JM James McConnell Private · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 JP James Parker Lieutenant Colonel · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899
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.