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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant Colonel · U.S. Army

Victor Vifquain

Lieutenant Colonel Victor Vifquain, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 9, 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 9, 1865Born in Belgium

Lieutenant Colonel Victor Vifquain, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 9, 1865 at Fort Blakely, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 97th Illinois Infantry. Vifquain was 28 years old.

18 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 8, 1865. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General.

Vifquain was born on May 20, 1836 in Brussels, Belgium — one of 3 recipients born in Belgium. His Medal of Honor is credited to Salene County, Nebraska. Vifquain died on January 7, 1904 in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the age of 67. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska. His medal is held by Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE.

Vifquain is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 20 credited to Nebraska.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Capture of flag.

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

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Victor Vifquain received:

Order of the Double Dragon

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: writer

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Brussels-Capital Region — map
  • Died: Lincoln — map
  • Buried: Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Nebraska →

Timeline

  1. May 20, 1836
    Born in Brussels, Belgium
  2. April 9, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Blakely, Alabama
    Age 28. 97th Illinois Infantry
  3. June 8, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 7, 1904
    Died in Lincoln, Nebraska
    Age 67.
  5. Resting place
    Calvary Cemetery
    Lincoln, Nebraska

Biography

Jean-Baptiste Victor Vifquain (May 20, 1836 – January 7, 1904) was a Belgian-born veteran of the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for capturing a Confederate flag during the Battle of Fort Blakeley. Following the Civil War, Vifquain was appointed as US consul to Colombia and was inducted into the Order of the Double Dragon for rendering aid to Chinese citizens.

From the Wikipedia article “Victor Vifquain”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 9, 1865

JC John H. Callahan Private · Army Civil War · 1865 James Lemuel Carey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JD John P. Donaldson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry S. Finkenbiner Private · Army Civil War · 1865 WF West Funk Major · Army Civil War · 1865 SM Samuel McConnell Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry Clay Merriam Lieutenant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 HM Henry August Miller Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 DM Daniel B. Moore Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 WM William H. Myers Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HN Henry Clay Nichols Captain · Army Civil War · 1865 TP Thomas H. l Payne First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 19 recipients for April 9, 1865 →

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.