b. 1850 County Kerry, Ireland. d. 19/05/1907 New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 08/12/1874 Staked Plains, Texas.
John Francis O’Sullivan was born in County Kerry, southern Ireland in about 1850. He eventually emigrated to the United States where he enlisted in the U.S. Army in New York City, New York on March 22, 1870. O’Sullivan became a member of the 4th U.S. Cavalry and saw action during the Texas-Indian Wars of the 1870s. On December 8, 1874, he was part of a cavalry detachment that was pursuing 10 Indians through the Muchague Valley. In the course of the chase the Indians suddenly dismounted and took up positions to fire upon the soldiers. He and fellow Private Frederick Bergendahl distinguished themselves in this battle, and after nearly all the renegades had been killed, O’Sullivan pursued the last surviving Indian but was unable to catch him. Both Bergendahl and O’Sullivan were received the Medal of Honor, as well as Lieutenant Lewis Warrington, for gallantry at the Staked Plains on October 13, 1875. After leaving the military, O’Sullivan returned to New York where he died on May 19, 1907, at the age of 57. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York. A memorial marker was erected in his memory at Fort Concho National Historic Landmark in San Angelo, Texas.
MOH CITATION:
Gallantry in a long chase after Indians.
BURIAL LOCATION: CALVARY CEMETERY, WOODSIDE, NEW YORK.
3RD CALVARY, SECTION 19, RANGE 5, PLOT AA, GRAVE 17.
IMO AT FORT CONCHO NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, SAN ANGELO, TEXAS.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
