Private William H. Strayer, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 26, 1872 at Loupe Fork of the Platte River, Nebraska during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Strayer was 24 years old.
3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 22, 1872. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Strayer was born on October 17, 1847 in Maytown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Strayer died on January 29, 1876 in Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, US, at the age of 28. He is buried at Camp Hill Cemetery in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania.
Strayer 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.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Indian Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- October 17, 1847Born in Maytown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
- April 26, 1872Act of valor — Loupe Fork of the Platte River, NebraskaAge 24. Company B, 3d U.S. Cavalry
- May 22, 1872Medal of Honor presented
- January 29, 1876Died in Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, USAge 28.
- Resting placeCamp Hill CemeteryMount Joy, Pennsylvania
Biography
Private William H. Strayer (October 17, 1847 – January 29, 1876) was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 3rd U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars in Nebraska. He was one of four men, along with Sergeant John H. Foley, First Sergeant Leroy Vokes and civilian scout William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action against a Miniconjou Sioux raiding party at the Loupe Fork of the Platte River on April 26, 1872.
From the Wikipedia article “William H. Strayer”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
