Benjamin Brown was a Buffalo Soldier

Buffalo Soldier

Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas....

 in the United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

—for his actions in the Indian Wars

Indian Wars

American Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...

 of the western United States

Western United States

.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...

.

On May 11, 1889, Brown was serving as a Sergeant in Company C of the 24th Infantry Regiment

24th Infantry Regiment (United States)

The 24th Infantry Regiment was a unit of the United States Army, active from 1869 until 1951, and again from 1995 until 2006. The regiment is notable for having a colorfully checkered history, with a record of mostly meritorious service and valorous combat performance interspersed with episodes of...

 when his unit was involved in an engagement with robbers during the Wham Paymaster Robbery

Wham Paymaster Robbery

The Wham Paymaster Robbery of 1889 is the popular name for the theft of $28,000 dollars from the United States Army in Arizona Territory. On May 11, a gang of bandits attacked a small troop of Buffalo Soldiers under the command of Major Joseph W. Wham. During the ensuing shootout, the outlaws...

. For his actions during the engagement, Brown was awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on February 19, 1890.

Brown died in 1910 and was buried at the United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery

United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery

United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, in Washington, D.C., is located next to the Armed Forces Retirement Home. It is one of only two national cemeteries administered by the Department of the Army—the other being Arlington National Cemetery...

 in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company C, 24th U.S. Infantry. Place and date: Arizona, May 11, 1889. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Spotsylvania County, Va. Date of issue: February 19, 1890.

Citation:

Although shot in the abdomen, in a fight between a paymaster's escort and robbers, did not leave the field until again wounded through both arms.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars
• List of African American Medal of Honor recipients

External links