Private Orizoba Spence was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 20, 1869 in Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona Territory during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company G, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Spence was about 22 years old.
32 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 14, 1870.
Spence was born in 1847 in Forest County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. Spence died on April 7, 1876 in Fort Bowie, Arizona, at the age of about 29. He is buried at Fort Bowie Post Cemetery in Fort Bowie, Arizona. Records also list him as Spence, Orisoba.
Spence is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 256 credited to Ohio.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Gallantry in action.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Timeline
- 1847Born in Forest County, Pennsylvania
- October 20, 1869Act of valor — Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona TerritoryAge about 22. Company G, 8th U.S. Cavalry
- February 14, 1870Medal of Honor presented
- April 7, 1876Died in Fort Bowie, ArizonaAge about 29.
- Resting placeFort Bowie Post CemeteryFort Bowie, Arizona
Biography
Orizoba O. Spence (1847 – April 7, 1876), alternatively spelled Orisoba, was a sergeant in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action during the Indian Wars.
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