b. 23/05/1867 Schellsburg, Pennsylvania. d. 18/03/1950 San Bruno, California.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 29/12/1890 Wounded Knee, South Dakota.
Mosheim Feaster was born in Schellsburg, Pennsylvania on May 23, 1867. As a young man, he traveled to Cleveland, Ohio where he enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a member of Company E in the 7th U.S. Cavalry. Assigned to frontier duty in the Dakota Territory, Feaster took part in campaigns against the Sioux during the late-1880s. His unit was ordered to bring in the Sioux chief Big Foot, on the morning of December 29, 1890, they surrounded his camp on the banks of Wounded Knee Creek. Although intending to place Big Foot under arrest and disarm his followers, fighting broke out resulting in what some call the Wounded Knee Massacre. Feaster was cited for “extraordinary gallantry” during the battle by advancing to an exposed position and holding it under heavy fire. He was one of twenty-four soldiers who received the Medal of Honor for his actions. He received his Medal on 23 June 1891.
On July 1, 1898 Feaster was awarded the Silver Star while serving as a Corporal in Company H, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment for “gallantry in advancing beyond the general line in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.
After leaving the military at the rank of first lieutenant, Feaster moved to San Bruno, California where he died on March 18, 1950, at the age of 82.
MOH CITATION:
he President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Mosheim Feaster, United States Army, for extraordinary gallantry on 29 December 1890, while serving with Company E, 7th U.S. Cavalry, in action at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota.
BURIAL LOCATION: GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL CEMETERY, SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA.
SECTION O, GRAVE 319
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
