Serving as a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, Sergeant Richard Binder received the Medal of Honor for his actions between January 13 and 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Ticonderoga. Binder was 25 years old.
16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Binder was born on July 26, 1839 in Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Binder died on February 26, 1912 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 72. He is buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Records also list him as Bigle, Richard.
Binder is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S.S. Ticonderoga during the attacks on Fort Fisher, 24 and 25 December 1864 and 13 to 15 January 1865. Despite heavy return fire by the enemy and the explosion of the 100-pounder Parrott rifle which killed eight men and wounded 12 more, Sgt. Binder, as captain of a gun, performed his duties with skill and courage during the first two days of battle. As his ship again took position on the 13th, he remained steadfast on the Ticonderoga, maintained a well-placed fire upon the batteries onshore, and thereafter, as she materially lessened the power of guns on the mound which had been turned upon our assaulting columns. During this action the flag was planted on one of the strongest fortifications possessed by the rebels.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- July 26, 1839Born in Germany
- January 13 - 15, 1865Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge 25. U.S.S. Ticonderoga
- February 26, 1912Died in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaAge 72.
- Resting placeWest Laurel Hill CemeteryBala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
Biography
Richard Binder (July 26, 1839 – February 26, 1912), birth name Richard Bigle, was a Kingdom of Württemberg born American military non-commissioned officer who served as a United States Marine Corps sergeant during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions aboard the USS Ticonderoga during the First Battle of Fort Fisher, December 24-25, 1864, and the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, January 13-15, 1865. He owned a series of hair salons in Philadelphia and created his own line of hair tonics and ointments as well as wigs and toupées.
From the Wikipedia article “Richard Binder”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
