Joshua B. Hartzog

Congressional 
Medal of Honor 

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The Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor, established by Joint Resolution of Congress, July 12, 1862 (amended by Acts of Congress, July 9, 1918 and July 25, 1963), is awarded in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member of the Armed Forces, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of service is required, and each recommendation for award of this decoration is considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.

 

Congressional Medal of Honor Society Website

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/1685/hartzog-joshija-b.php

 

 

 

White County Historical Society
Searcy, Arkansas

http://www.argenweb.net/white/history/MoH_Winner.html

 

 

 

 

 Joshua Byron Hartzog was born February 3, 1866 in Washington Township, Paulding Co., Ohio, the son of Joshua and Sarah Jane (Blythe) Hartzog.  His father Joshua was born January 19, 1830 in Schuylkill Co., Pennsylvania, and married Sarah Jane Blythe, 21, of Latty in Paulding County on May 15, 1865.  Joshua and Sarah Jane, who are buried in Middle Creek Cemetery, Grover Hill, Ohio, lived long enough to see young Joshua distinguish himself in the famous Battle of Wounded Knee, but died before he sank roots in Arkansas.


Birthplace:
 Washington Township, Paulding County, Ohio 1866
Date of Death: 
May 27, 1939
Place of Death/Burial:
Gum Spring Cemetery, Searcy, Arkansas
First Enlistment: 
08-03-1862
Unit:
Ohio Volunteers Infantry, under Dennison
Discharged:
01/24/1863, Camp Dennison, Ohio
Second Enlistment:
Date unknown
Conflict: 
Indian Campaigns
Branch of Service:
Army
Entered Service:
Detroit, Michigan
Rank & Unit:
Private, Company E, 1st U.S. Artillery
Place of Action:
Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota
Date of Action:
December 29, 1890
Accredited to:
Detroit, Michigan
Date of Issue of Medal of Honor: 
March 24, 1891

Citation:
Went to the rescue of the commanding officer who had fallen severely wounded, picked him up, and carried him out of range of the hostile guns.

Eye Witness Account:
"All of the Indians opened fire on us. One of my men went for ammunition and didn't come back. ...My captain called to me to come back, but I kept moving nearer the Indians, and kept shooting. Lieutenant Hawthorne came toward me and was calling, when suddenly I heard him say: 'Oh, my God!' Looking around, I saw him lying of his side, and then I knew he had been hit. Hartzog ran to him and carried him back behind the hill."
[Source: The Congressional Medal of Honor, The Names, The Deeds. Sharp and Dunnigan Publications, 1984, ISBN 0-918495-01-6.]