b. 02/05/1847 Canada West. d. 10/05/1931 Denison, Iowa.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 20/10/1869 Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona.
Indian Wars Medal of Honor Recipient. He was a Quartermaster Blacksmith trooper in Company G, 8th U.S. Cavalry stationed at Fort Bowie, Arizona, when his post learned that the Apache Chief Cochise had killed ranchers and stolen cattle in a raid. On October 20, 1869, the cavalry troopers pursued Cochise and his warriors toward Rucker Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains. During the Battle of Rocky Mesa, Quartermaster Harding saw a comrade fall after being wounded. He went out after him, bullets and arrows flying all around, and moved him to safety. For his brave actions under fire, he was awarded the medal of Honor in February 1870.
MOH CITATION:
Gallantry in action.
BURIAL LOCATION: OAKLAND CEMETERY, DENISON, IOWA.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
