b. 1862 Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. d. 23/08/1927 Brooklyn, New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 29/12/1890 Sioux Campaign, South Dakota.
Bernhard Jetter was born in the Kingdom of Württemberg in 1862. He immigrated into the United States at New York City, New York on April 17, 1881. He enlisted in K Troop, 7th Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army on May 5, 1883 in New York City. He was promoted to sergeant; he was discharged on May 4, 1888 upon his termination of service at Rapid City, Dakota Territory with a character rating of excellent. Jetter re-enlisted near Rapid City on June 5, 1888.
Jetter was among the cavalry troops sent to arrest Chief Big Foot and disarm his Sioux followers and, on the morning of December 29, 1890, surrounded their camp on the banks of Wounded Knee Creek. In the ensuing Wounded Knee Massacre, Jetter and several other soldiers took part in search-and-destroy missions along White Clay Creek and were cited for “distinguished bravery” in skirmishes against the Sioux. Jetter himself was witnessed “killing an Indian who was in the act of killing a wounded man” in his unit. He and nineteen other members of his regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor on April 24, 1891.
Jetter was discharged as a first sergeant on June 4, 1893 at Fort Sheridan. He immediately re-enlisted on June 5, 1893 at Fort Sheridan. Jetter was naturalized as a U.S. Citizen on July 10, 1896 in the U.S. District Court in New York, New York; his occupation at the time was “U.S. soldier.” He was discharged by authority of a special order on September 4, 1896 as a first sergeant at Fort Huachuca, Arizona Territory was a character rating of excellent.
Jetter married Rose Elizabeth Wagner on June 3, 1916 in New York, New York, giving his marital status as widowed. Jetter returned to Brooklyn after leaving military service and died in Brooklyn on August 23, 1927 at the age of 65; his wife Rose survived him. He was interred at Cypress Hills National Cemetery.
MOH CITATION:
Distinguished bravery.
BURIAL LOCATION: CYPRESS HILLS NATIONAL CEMETERY, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
SECTION 5, LOT 1.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
