John O. Skinner

He saved a wounded soldier from fire at the Modoc stronghold

John Oscar Skinner was born on May 4, 1845, in Baltimore, Maryland. He served the United States Army as a contract surgeon during the Modoc War.

On January 17, 1873, during the assault on the Modoc stronghold in California's Lava Beds, a wounded soldier lay exposed to close and heavy fire. Two soldiers had already tried to reach him and had both been wounded. Skinner went to the casualty and rescued him.

His Medal of Honor was presented on April 6, 1915, more than forty years after the action. He later attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. During the First World War he commanded the United States Army Dispensary in Washington, D.C. Skinner died on September 12, 1932, in Washington, D.C., and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His award commemorates a medical officer's courage in reaching a wounded man under fire.

Official Medal of Honor citation:

Rescued a wounded soldier who lay under a close and heavy fire during the assault on the Modoc stronghold after two soldiers had unsuccessfully attempted to make the rescue and both had been wounded in doing so.