First Sergeant Leroy H. Vokes, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 26, 1872 at Loupe Fork of the Platte River, Nebraska during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Vokes was 22 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 22, 1872.
Vokes was born on November 12, 1849 in Lake County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri. Vokes died on June 11, 1924 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 74. He is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Iowa.
Vokes is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 78 credited to Missouri.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Gallantry in action.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Indian Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Missouri →
Timeline
- November 12, 1849Born in Lake County, Illinois
- April 26, 1872Act of valor — Loupe Fork of the Platte River, NebraskaAge 22. Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry
- May 22, 1872Medal of Honor presented
- June 11, 1924Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 74.
- Resting placeRose Hill CemeteryFredericksburg, Iowa
Biography
Leroy H. Vokes (November 12, 1849 – June 11, 1924) was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 3rd U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars. A veteran of campaigns against the Plains Indians, he was one of four men who received the Medal of Honor for "gallantry in action" against hostile Indians at the Loupe Fork of the Platte River in Nebraska on April 26, 1872.
From the Wikipedia article “Leroy H. Vokes”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
