- Oscar Burkard
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Oscar R. Burkard
Private Oscar Burkard, shortly after being awarded the Medal of Honor in 1899.Born December 21, 1877
Achern, Baden-Württemberg, GermanyDied February 18, 1950 (aged 72)
Rome, New York, United StatesAllegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Army Years of service c. 1898–c. 1918 Rank Major Unit 3rd U.S. Infantry Battles/wars Indian Wars
World War IAwards Medal of Honor Oscar R. Burkard (December 21, 1877 – February 18, 1950) was a German-American soldier who served in the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars and World War I. In 1898, he received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Sugar Point. Aside from being the only non-combatant to be decorated from that engagement, Burkard was also the last man to receive the medal during the Indian Wars.[1][2][3]
Contents
Biography
Born in Achern, Germany, he immigrated to the United States in 1895 and eventually enlisted in the military at Hay Creek, Minnesota. Assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry at Fort Snelling, he served as a private in the Hospital Corps and was present as an acting hospital steward at the Battle of Sugar Point on October 5, 1898. During the battle, he rescued several soldiers while under heavy fire from the Pillagers and continued to do so throughout the day. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor "for distinguished bravery in action against hostile Indians" and officially received the award on August 21, 1899.[4]
Seeing service during World War I, he retired at the rank of major and later died in Rome, New York on February 18, 1950.
See also
References
- ^ King, Steven C. Seeds of War. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse, 2007. (pg. 83) ISBN 1-4343-0212-1
- ^ Owens, Ron. Medal of Honor: Historical Facts & Figures. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 2004. (pg. 57) ISBN 1-56311-995-1
- ^ "Chronological List 1832 through 1898, Indian War And U.S. Cavalry". USMilitaryHistory.com. 1989. http://usmilitaryhistory.com/Historical%20Documents/Indian%20Wars.htm.
- ^ "Medal of Honor: Oscar Burkard". Office of Medical History. 2002. http://history.amedd.army.mil/moh/burkardo.htm.
External links
- "Photo of Grave site of MOH Recipient Oscar Burkard". http://www.homeofheros.com/gravesites/states/pages_af/burkhard_oscar_ny.html. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- "Oscar Burkard". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7699464. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
Categories:- 1877 births
- 1950 deaths
- American military personnel of the Indian Wars
- American military personnel of World War I
- Army Medal of Honor recipients
- German emigrants to the United States
- American people of German descent
- People from Minnesota
- People from Oneida County, New York
- Foreign born Medal of Honor recipients
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