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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

William Koelpin

Sergeant William Koelpin, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 9, 1874 at Upper Wichita River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns September 9, 1874Born in Poland

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant William Koelpin received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 9, 1874 at Upper Wichita River, Texas during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry. Koelpin was 28 years old.

11 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 23, 1875.

Koelpin was born on October 5, 1845 in Stetten, Poland (Prussia) — one of 6 recipients born in Poland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Koelpin died on January 2, 1912 in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of 66. He is buried at Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery in Middle Village, New York.

Koelpin 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 action.

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

Timeline

  1. October 5, 1845
    Born in Stetten, Poland (Prussia)
  2. September 9, 1874
    Act of valor — Upper Wichita River, Texas
    Age 28. Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry
  3. April 23, 1875
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 2, 1912
    Died in Brooklyn, New York
    Age 66.
  5. Resting place
    Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery
    Middle Village, New York

Also honored for actions on September 9, 1874

WD William de Armond Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 ✦ FH Fred Stewart Hay Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 JJ John James Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 JK John J. h Kelly Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 TK Thomas Kelly Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 GK George Krause Kitchen Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 JK John W. Knox Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 JM John Mitchell First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 WM William W. Morris Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 FN Frederick S. Neilon Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 ES Edward Clay Sharpless Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874

Same unit

JC Joseph A. Cable Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 FH Fred O. Hunt Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877 CM Charles H. Montrose Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

WA William Grafton Austin Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1890 WO William O'Neill Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 Thaddeus Brown Glover Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1880 CD Cornelius Donavan Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1869 JM John Mitchell Merrill Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1879 EB Edmond Thomas Butler Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877
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.