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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

William Russell Parnell

First Lieutenant William Russell Parnell, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 17, 1877 at White Bird Canyon, Idaho during the Indian Campaigns.

Indian Campaigns June 17, 1877Born in Ireland

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant William Russell Parnell received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 17, 1877 at White Bird Canyon, Idaho during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with 1st U.S. Cavalry. Parnell was 40 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 16, 1897, 20 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Parnell was born on August 13, 1836 in Dublin, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Parnell died on August 20, 1910, at the age of 74. He is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco, California.

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

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

With a few men, in the face of a heavy fire from pursuing Indians and in imminent peril, returned and rescued a soldier whose horse had been killed and who had been left behind in the retreat.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War, Nez Perce War, Crimean War, American Indian Wars, Modoc War, Bannock War, Snake War.

Places

  • Born: Dublin — map
  • Died: San Francisco — map
  • Buried: San Francisco National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. August 13, 1836
    Born in Dublin, Ireland
  2. June 17, 1877
    Act of valor — White Bird Canyon, Idaho
    Age 40. 1st U.S. Cavalry
  3. September 16, 1897
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 20, 1910
    Died
    Age 74.
  5. Resting place
    San Francisco National Cemetery
    San Francisco, California

Biography

William Russell Parnell (13 August 1836 – 20 August 1910) was an Irish-born adventurer and soldier during the mid-to late 19th century. A member of the 17th Lancers during the Crimean War, he participated in the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava. He later became a Lieutenant Colonel and brevet Colonel in the U.S. Army, participating in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Parnell served as an officer to the 1st U.S. Cavalry in the Nez Perce War and received the Medal of Honor for leading a rescue of troops and personally saving the life of a trooper at the Battle of White Bird Canyon in 1877.

From the Wikipedia article “William R. Parnell”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on June 17, 1877

Michael McCarthy First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1877

Same unit

JG John Green Major · Army Indian Campaigns · 1873 MH Moses Harris First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864

More Indian Campaigns recipients from New York

EB Edward Branagan Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872 JO John Francis O'Sullivan Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 BM Bernard McCann Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1876 ✦ JM James McNally First Sergeant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1868 PG Peter W. Gardiner Private · Army Indian Campaigns · 1875 WO William O'Neill Corporal · Army Indian Campaigns · 1872
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.