b. 12/03/1847 Lexington, Kentucky. d. 27/02/1928 Washington DC.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 01/01/1891 White River, South Dakota.
John B Kerr MOH
Kerr was born near Lexington, Kentucky, on March 12, 1847. Kerr was an 1870 graduate of West Point.
He spent most of his Army career on the western frontier, chiefly as a scout in the 6th Cavalry Regiment on the western frontier. On January 1, 1891, he commanded his troop of the 6th U.S. Cavalry in action against the Sioux on the north bank of the White River in South Dakota. In this action, he defeated a force of 300 Brule Sioux warriors and was awarded the Medal of Honor for this action on April 25 of the same year.
In the Spanish–American War, he fought at the Battle of San Juan Hill as a captain in the 2nd Squadron of the 10th Cavalry Regiment. He was promoted to major in the same regiment in October 1898. He received a citation for gallantry in action during the Santiago campaign. The citation was later converted to the Silver Star when the award was created in 1932.
In May 1901 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to the 9th Cavalry Regiment. On July 15, 1902, he was detailed as an assistant adjutant general.
In 1903 he was promoted to colonel and commanded the 12th Cavalry Regiment in the Philippine–American War. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1908, and commanded the Mounted Service School until his retirement from the Army on May 20, 1909.
He died at Garfield Hospital in Washington, D.C., on February 27, 1928, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on March 1, 1928.
MOH CITATION:
For distinguished bravery while in command of his troop in action against hostile Sioux Indians on the north bank of the White River, near the mouth of Little Grass Creek, S. Dak., where he defeated a force of 300 Brule Sioux warriors, and turned the Sioux tribe, which was endeavoring to enter the Bad Lands, back into the Pine Ridge Agency.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 3, GRAVE 1950-SH.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
