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Captain Brevet lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army

Sylvester Bonnaffon Jr. was a United States Army officer who served with distinction during the American Civil War. Commissioned as a first lieutenant in Company G of the 99th Pennsylvania Infantry, Bonnaffon demonstrated exceptional leadership and courage during several of the conflict's critical engagements.
He is best remembered for his conspicuous gallantry at the Battle of Boydton Plank Road in Virginia on October 27, 1864. Facing intense opposition from Confederate forces, Bonnaffon's valor and tactical command under fire rallied his men and proved pivotal to his unit's operations. For these actions, he was later brevetted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Decades after the war, Bonnaffon was officially recognized with the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, which was presented to him in September 1893. His legacy remains that of a dedicated Union officer who served his country with high distinction during its greatest domestic crisis.
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