Battles/wars Indian Wars Rank Sergeant Awards Medal of Honor Name Co Ish | Unit Pawnee Scouts | |
Battles and wars American Indian Wars Service/branch United States Army Allegiance United States of America | ||
Co-Rux-Te-Chod-Ish was a Pawnee Scout and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.
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Biography
Co-Tux-A-Kah-Wadde (or Traveling Bear in English) was born in Nebraska and entered the U.S. Army as an Indian Scout. Due to the language barrier between him and the Army soldiers his name was misinterpreted as Co-Rux-Te-Chod-Ish or Mad Bear and that is the name that has been incorrectly documented in his Medal of Honor and other references to this day. While on patrol after a dismounted Indian, he was badly injured when another member of his unit shot him by mistake. For his actions in Republican River, Kansas July 8, 1869 he became the first Native American to receive the Medal of Honor on August 24, 1869.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Pawnee Scouts, U.S. Army. Place and date: At Republican River, Kans., July 8, 1869. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Nebraska. Date of issue: August 24, 1869.
Citation:
Ran out from the command in pursuit of a dismounted Indian; was shot down and badly wounded by a bullet from his own command.