Awards Medal of Honor Years of service c. 1869–1870 | Name John May Rank Sergeant Role Medal of Honor | |
Battles/wars Indian Wars
Texas–Indian Wars Died March 19, 1886, La Junta, Colorado, United States Battles and wars American Indian Wars, Texas–Indian wars | ||
Place of burial Fairview Cemetery Service/branch United States Army Allegiance United States of America | ||
John May (1836 – March 19, 1886) was a German-born soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 6th U.S. Cavalry during the Texas-Indian Wars. He was one of thirteen men who received the Medal of Honor for gallantry against the Kiowa at the Battle of the Little Wichita River on July 12, 1870.
Contents
Biography
Born in Wurttemberg, Germany in 1836, John May emigrated to the United States where he eventually enlisted in the U.S. Army at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He became a member of the 6th U.S. Cavalry where he eventually reached the rank of sergeant. Serving on frontier duty in Texas, May would eventually become a veteran Indian fighter during Texas-Indian Wars. While stationed at Fort Richardson in the summer of 1870, he was part of a mixed detachment consisting of 3 officers and 56 men under the command of Captain Curwen B. McClellan which pursued a band of Indians who had captured the mail at Rock Station only 16 miles from the fort. After nearly a week on the trail, they were ambushed by 250 Kiowas led by Chief Kicking Bird resulting in what would become known as the Battle of the Little Wichita River. Vastly outnumbered, May and his fellow soldiers took cover and were eventually able to force the Kiowas to retreat. After returning to Fort Richardson, McClellan recommended May and 12 other men for the Medal of Honor which they received on August 25, 1870. May died in La Junta, Colorado on March 19, 1886, at age 50. He was interred at Fairview Cemetery.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Wichita River, Tex., 12 July 1870. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: 25 August 1870.
Citation:
Gallantry in action.