Private Oscar R. Burkard, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 5, 1898 at Leech Lake, Minnesota during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Hospital Corps U.S. Army. Burkard was 20 years old.
The medal was presented on August 21, 1899. He later rose to the rank of Major Medical Corps.
Burkard was born on December 21, 1877 in Baden Achern, Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to Fort Snelling, St. Paul County, Minnesota. Burkard died on February 18, 1950 in Rome, New York, at the age of 72. He is buried at Rome Cemetery in Rome, New York.
Burkard is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 45 credited to Minnesota.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For distinguished bravery in action against hostile Indians.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I, American Indian Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Minnesota →
Timeline
- December 21, 1877Born in Baden Achern, Germany
- October 5, 1898Act of valor — Leech Lake, MinnesotaAge 20. Hospital Corps U.S. Army
- August 21, 1899Medal of Honor presented
- February 18, 1950Died in Rome, New YorkAge 72.
- Resting placeRome CemeteryRome, New York
Biography
Oscar Rudolph Burkard (December 21, 1877 – February 18, 1950) was a German-American soldier who served in the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars and World War I. In 1899, he received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Sugar Point. Aside from being the only non-combatant to be decorated from that engagement, Burkard was also the last man to receive the medal during the Indian Wars.
From the Wikipedia article “Oscar Burkard”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
