List of Native American Medal of Honor recipients


This is a list of Native Americans awarded the nation's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is bestowed "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in actual combat against an armed enemy force." The medal is awarded by the President of the United States on behalf of the Congress.
Of the 3,469 Medals of Honor awarded as of 2010, 29 have been awarded to Native Americans.
The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.

List of recipients

NameTribe/NationServiceRankConflictPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
Co-Rux-Te-Chod-IshPawneeArmyIndian WarsRepublican River, Kansas"Ran out from the command in pursuit of a dismounted Indian; was shot down and badly wounded by a bullet from his own command"
ChiquitoWhite Mountain ApacheArmyIndian WarsArizona TerritoryFor his "conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches"
JimWhite Mountain ApacheArmyIndian Wars—For his "conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches"
MacholApacheArmyIndian WarsArizona TerritoryFor his "conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches"
NannasaddieWhite Mountain ApacheArmyIndian WarsArizona TerritoryFor his "conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches"
NantajeWhite Mountain ApacheArmyIndian WarsArizona TerritoryFor his "conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches"
White Mountain ApacheArmyIndian WarsArizona TerritoryFor his "conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches"
BlanquetApacheArmyIndian WarsArizona TerritoryFor his "conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches"
ElsatsoosuApacheArmyIndian WarsArizona TerritoryFor his "conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches"
KelsayWhite Mountain ApacheArmyIndian WarsArizona TerritoryFor his "conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches"
KosohaWhite Mountain ApacheArmyIndian WarsArizona TerritoryFor his "conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches"
Black SeminoleArmyIndian WarsCanyon Blanco tributary of the Red River, Texas – "Rendered invaluable service to Col. R. S. Mackenzie, 4th U.S. Cavalry, during this engagement"
Black SeminoleArmyIndian WarsPecos River, TexasWith three others, charged a numerically superior force
Black SeminoleArmyIndian WarsPecos River, TexasWith three others, charged a numerically superior force
Black SeminoleArmyIndian WarsPecos River, TexasWith three others, charged a numerically superior force
RowdyApacheArmyIndian WarsArizona Territory
SiouxMarine CorpsWorld War IICentral Solomons area, Pacific Ocean – Led his squadron in a series of missions against superior numbers
MuscogeeArmyWorld War IIOliveto, ItalyAlthough injured, killed two snipers and attacked two machine gun nests
CherokeeArmyWorld War IISingle-handedly attacked two German positions and took dozens of prisoners
ChoctawArmyWorld War IISingle-handedly destroyed two machine gun nests, took prisoners, and disabled a tank
*ArmyWorld War IISingle-handedly attacked three German positions although wounded
*Cherokee/MuscogeeNavyWorld War IIIn battle off Samar, where a major portion of the Japanese Battle fleet surprised the Taffy 3 escort carrier task unit, Evans immediately attacked with his single destroyer, the Johnston, against overwhelming odds. At the cost of his own life, his ship, and much of his crew, they helped to inflict the amazing defeat on the enemy battleships and cruisers by a far inferior American force.
*ArmyWorld War IIPaco Railroad Station, Manila, PhilippinesWith another soldier, attacked a Japanese-held railroad station
*Ho-ChunkArmyKorean WarMaintained an exposed position, continued to fight after being wounded
ChickasawArmyKorean WarLed his men against a series of emplacements, continued to lead after being wounded
*ChoctawArmyKorean War – Single-handedly attacked two positions although wounded, killed while attacking a third
*SiouxArmyKorean WarSingle-handedly attacked three machine gun nests
*CherokeeArmyKorean WarSmothered the blast of a grenade with his body
CherokeeNavyBoatswain's Mate 1st ClassVietnam WarMekong River, South VietnamDestroyed 65 boats and over 1,000 enemy
CherokeeNavyVietnam WarThrough a hail of fire he succeeded in removing his seriously wounded superior officer then towed him two hours in the water until being rescued