Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial is located at the corner of Fifth and Jefferson Streets in downtown Louisville, Kentucky
, on the grounds of the old Jefferson County Courthouse. The Memorial honors all recipients of the Medal of Honor
from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Memorial was sculpted by Doyle Glass
and dedicated on Veteran's Day 2001. The Memorial features a life-size bronze statue of Medal of Honor recipient John C. Squires
as he would appear on the night he earned the Medal of Honor. Squires, a native of Louisville, was killed in action in Italy during World War II
. The statue of Squires stands on a 4 feet (1.2 m) granite base. A plaque on the base lists the names of each recipient of the Medal of Honor from Kentucky.
1861-1865
Indian Campaigns 1870-1891
Actions in Peacetime 1871-1910
Wars of American Expansion 1897-1902
World War I
1917-1919
World War II
1941-1945
Korean War
1950-1953
Vietnam War
1961-1975
Operation Enduring Freedom 2001-Present
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, on the grounds of the old Jefferson County Courthouse. The Memorial honors all recipients of 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...
from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Memorial was sculpted by Doyle Glass
Doyle Glass
Doyle Dudley Glass is an American historian and sculptor.-Biography:Glass was born and raised in Midland, Texas. A sixth generation Texan, his family dates back to the days of the Republic of Texas, with an ancestor who died at the Alamo, another who was a Texas Ranger in Sul Ross' command, a...
and dedicated on Veteran's Day 2001. The Memorial features a life-size bronze statue of Medal of Honor recipient John C. Squires
John C. Squires
John C. Squires was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II....
as he would appear on the night he earned the Medal of Honor. Squires, a native of Louisville, was killed in action in Italy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The statue of Squires stands on a 4 feet (1.2 m) granite base. A plaque on the base lists the names of each recipient of the Medal of Honor from Kentucky.
Recipients of the Medal of Honor from Kentucky
Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
1861-1865
- Army Captain William P. BlackWilliam P. BlackWilliam Perkins Black was a lawyer and veteran of the American Civil War. He received America's highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor - for his actions at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in 1862.-Biography:...
- Army Private John C. Callahan
- Army Sergeant John S. DarroughJohn S. DarroughJohn Samuel Darrough was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during a skirmish near Eastport, Mississippi. Born in Kentucky, Darrough moved to Illinois as a child and enlisted in the...
- Army Private John Davis
- Army Drummer William H. HorsfallWilliam H. HorsfallWilliam H. Horsfall was one of the youngest men to receive the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War. He was born in 1847, in Newport, Kentucky. Horsfall was a 15 year old drummer in Co. G, 1st Kentucky Infantry...
- Army Private Aaron Hudson
- Army Private Henry B. Mattingly
- Army Sergeant Francis M. McMillen
- Navy Landsman Daniel Noble
- Army Private Oliver P. Rood
- Army Sergeant Andrew J. SmithAndrew Jackson Smith (Medal of Honor recipient)-References:...
- Army Private William SteinmetzWilliam SteinmetzWilliam Steinmetz was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War who received America's highest military decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi.-Biography:William Steinmetz was born in Newport, Kentucky on September 2, 1847. He was a Corporal...
- Army Doctor Mary E. Walker
- Army Major John F. Weston
- Army Colonel James A. WilliamsonJames Alexander WilliamsonJames A. Williamson was a politician, and lawyer who served in the Union army during the American Civil War, rising to the rank of brigadier general. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou.-Biography:Williamson was born in Columbia, Kentucky in 1829...
Indian Campaigns 1870-1891
- Army Second Lieutenant Thomas CruseThomas CruseThomas Cruse was a United States Army Brigadier General who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor in action on July 17, 1882, at the Battle of Big Dry Wash, Arizona. An 1879 graduate of West Point, he served in numerous campaigns on the Western Frontier and later in the Philippines...
- Army First Sergeant William L. Day
- Army Corporal John J. Givens
- Army Private William M. Harris
- Army Captain John B. KerrJohn Brown KerrJohn Brown Kerr was a United States Army Brigadier General who was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in fighting Indians along the White River, South Dakota. Kerr is an 1870 graduate of West Point....
- Army Private Franklin M. McDonaldFranklin M. McDonaldFranklin M. McDonald was a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for gallantry in defeating Indians who attacked the mail.-Biography:...
- Army Private George D. Scott
- Army Sergeant Thomas Shaw
- Army Private Thomas W. StiversThomas W. StiversPrivate Thomas W. Stivers , also known under the name Thomas "Tom" Stevens or Stevers, was an American soldier in the U.S. Army who served with the 7th U.S. Cavalry during the Great Sioux War of 1876-77...
- Army Private Thomas Sullivan
- Army Saddler Otto E. Voit
- Army Sergeant Brent WoodsBrent Woods (Medal of Honor recipient)Brent Woods was an American Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.-Biography:...
Actions in Peacetime 1871-1910
- Navy Seaman Edward W. Boers
- Navy Watertender Edward A. Clary
- Navy Quarter Gunner George Holt
Wars of American Expansion 1897-1902
- Army Colonel J. Franklin BellJ. Franklin BellJames Franklin Bell was Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1906 to 1910.Bell was a major-general in the Regular United States Army, commanding the Department of the East, with headquarters at Governors Island, New York at the time of his death in 1919...
- Army First Lieutenant Benjamin F. HardawayBenjamin F. HardawayBenjamin Franklin Hardaway was a First Lieutenant serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
- Army Private James J. NashJames J. NashJames J. Nash was a private serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
1917-1919
- Army Sergeant Willie SandlinWillie SandlinWillie Sandlin was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I.-Biography:...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
1941-1945
- Marine Corps Corporal Richard E. BushRichard E. Bush-See also:*List of Medal of Honor recipients*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II-External links:...
- Army Technical Sergeant Morris E. CrainMorris E. CrainMorris E. Crain was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
- Marine Corps Private First Class Leonard F. MasonLeonard F. MasonLeonard Foster Mason served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Battle of Guam where he was mortally wounded.-Biography:...
- Marine Corps Reserve Private First Class Wesley PhelpsWesley PhelpsWesley Phelps was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions and sacrifice of life during the World War II Battle of Peleliu.-Biography:...
- Army Private Wilburn K. RossWilburn K. RossWilburn Kirby Ross is a retired United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
- Marine Corps Private First Class Luther Skaggs Jr.
- Army Staff Sergeant Junior J. SpurrierJunior J. SpurrierJunior James Spurrier, born James I. Spurrier, Jr., was a United States Army soldier who received America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II....
- Army Sergeant John C. SquiresJohn C. SquiresJohn C. Squires was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II....
Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
1950-1953
- Marine Corps Captain William E. BarberWilliam E. BarberWilliam Earl Barber was an officer in the United States Marine Corps awarded with the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. With only 220 men under his command, Barber held off more than 1,400 People's Republic of China soldiers during six days of...
- Marine Corps Private First Class William B. BaughWilliam B. BaughPrivate First Class William Bernard Baugh was a United States marine who, at age 20, received the Medal of Honor in Korea for sacrificing his life to save his Marine comrades...
- Army Corporal John W. CollierJohn W. CollierJohn Walton Collier was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. On June 24, 1951 he posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions.-Awards and decorations:Cpl Collier's awards include:...
- Army First Lieutenant Carl H. DoddCarl H. DoddCarl H. Dodd was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 30, and January 31, 1951.-Medal of Honor citation:...
- Army Second Lieutenant Darwin K. KyleDarwin K. KyleDarwin Keith Kyle a veteran soldier in the United States Army in World War II, Darwin Kyle earned both a Silver Star and Bronze Star for his heroic actions in France and Germany. A Master Sergeant at the beginning of the Korean War, "Gus" received a battlefield commission and the Soldier's Medal...
- Army Private First Class David M. SmithDavid M. SmithDavid Monroe Smith was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 1, 1950.-Medal of Honor citation:...
- Army Private First Class Ernest E. West
Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
1961-1975
- Army Sergeant Charles C. Fleek
- Army Staff Sergeant Don Jenkins
- Army Private First Class Billy L. Lauffer
- Army Sergeant First Class Gary L. LittrellGary L. LittrellGary Lee Littrell is a retired United States Army Command Sergeant Major who, while a Sergeant First Class serving as an adviser to Army of the Republic of Vietnam's Ranger units during the Vietnam War, acted with extraordinary courage during a four day siege on his battalion — for which he...
- Army Second Lieutenant John J. McGinty III
- Army Private First Class David P. NashDavid P. NashDavid Paul Nash was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.-Biography:...
- Marine Corps Lance Corporal Joe C. PaulJoe C. PaulLance Corporal Joe Calvin Paul was a United States Marine killed in the Vietnam War and posthumously received the Medal of Honor...
Operation Enduring Freedom 2001-Present
- Marine Corps Sergeant Dakota MeyerDakota MeyerDakota L. Meyer is a United States Marine Corps veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009, part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kunar province, Afghanistan...