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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Richard Burke

Private Richard Burke, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 21, 1876 at Cedar Creek, etc., Montana during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns October 21, 1876Born in Ireland

Private Richard Burke, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on October 21, 1876 at Cedar Creek, etc., Montana during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company G, 5th U.S. Infantry. Burke was about 29 years old.

29 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 18, 1877.

Burke was born in 1847 in Tipperary, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Burke died on September 1, 1881, at the age of about 34. He is buried at Custer Battlefield National Cemetery in Crow Agency, Montana.

Burke is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in engagements.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Timeline

  1. 1847
    Born in Tipperary, Ireland
  2. October 21, 1876
    Act of valor — Cedar Creek, etc., Montana
    Age about 29. Company G, 5th U.S. Infantry
  3. July 18, 1877
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. September 1, 1881
    Died
    Age about 34.
  5. Resting place
    Custer Battlefield National Cemetery
    Crow Agency, Montana

Also honored for actions on October 21, 1876

JB John Baker Musician · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 DB Denis Byrne Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JC Joseph A. Cable Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JC James Spencer Calvert Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 AC Aquilla Coonrod Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JD John S. Donelly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 CF Christopher Freemeyer Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 JH John Haddoo Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 HH Henry Hogan Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 DH David Holland Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 EJ Edward Johnston Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 PK Philip Kennedy Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

See all 30 recipients for October 21, 1876 →

Same unit

HH Henry Hogan First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

WO William O'Neill Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 RB Richard Barrett First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 WD William de Armond Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 ✦ CC Charles Cunningham Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 PR Peter Paul Roth Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 JS John P. Schnitzer Wagoner · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.