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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Theodore F. Smith

Private Theodore F. Smith, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 20, 1869 in Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona Territory during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns October 20, 1869

Private Theodore F. Smith 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, 1st U.S. Cavalry. Smith was 17 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, 1879, 9 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.

Smith was born on September 6, 1852 in Rahway, Union County, New Jersey. His Medal of Honor is credited to Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Smith died on June 6, 1925 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 72. He is buried at Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Records also list him as Schmidt, Theodore F..

Smith is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry in action.

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

Timeline

  1. September 6, 1852
    Born in Rahway, Union County, New Jersey
  2. October 20, 1869
    Act of valor — Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona Territory
    Age 17. Company G, 1st U.S. Cavalry
  3. February 14, 1879
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 6, 1925
    Died in Washington, District of Columbia
    Age 72.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington Cemetery
    Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania

Also honored for actions on October 20, 1869

JC John Carr Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 CD Charles H. Dickens Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 JD John L. Donahue Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 EE Edwin L. Elwood Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 JG John Georgian Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 MH Mosher A. Harding Blacksmith · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 FJ Frederick Jarvis Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 BK Bartholomew T. Keenan Trumpeter · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 CK Charles Kelley Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 NM Nicholas Meaher Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 EM Edward Murphy Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 FO Francis Oliver First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869

See all 33 recipients for October 20, 1869 →

More Indian Campaigns recipients from Pennsylvania

SH Samuel Hoover Bugler · Army Indian Campaigns · 1873 Leander Taylor Herron Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JK John Kay Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 WW William Wilson Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 DF Daniel Farren Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 JW Joseph Witcome Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868
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.