Sergeant Joseph S. Keen, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 1, 1864 near the Chattahoochee River, Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 13th Michigan Infantry. Keen was 21 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 4, 1899, 34 years after the action.
Keen was born on July 24, 1843 in Vale Parish, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Keen died on December 3, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 83. He is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.
Keen is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 112 credited to Michigan.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While an escaped prisoner of war within the enemy's lines, Keen witnessed an important movement of the enemy, and at great personal risk made his way through the enemy's lines and brought news of the movement to Sherman's army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Elmwood Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →
Timeline
- July 24, 1843Born in Vale Parish, England
- October 1, 1864Act of valor — near the Chattahoochee River, GeorgiaAge 21. Company D, 13th Michigan Infantry
- August 4, 1899Medal of Honor presented
- December 3, 1926Died in Detroit, MichiganAge 83.
- Resting placeElmwood CemeteryDetroit, Michigan
Biography
Joseph S. Keen (July 24, 1843 - December 3, 1926) was a Guernsey-born soldier and recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions during the American Civil War.
From the Wikipedia article “Joseph S. Keen”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
