Lewis Phife

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Lewis Phife
US-MOH-1862.png
Born(1841-10-20)October 20, 1841
Died January 31, 1913(1913-01-31) (aged 71)
Place of burialTierney Cemetery, Wever, Iowa
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Sergeant
Unit 8th U.S. Cavalry
Battles/wars American Indian Wars
Awards Medal of Honor

Lewis Phife (1841 1913) was a U.S. Cavalry soldier. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action against Apache Indians in the Arizona Territory. Phife left his hometown of Burlington, Iowa at the age of 19 to move westward. He settled in Marion County, Oregon and in 1865 volunteered for service with Company F of the 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry. At the conclusion of the Civil War he enlisted in the Regular Army.

Medal of Honor United States of Americas highest military honor

The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The medal is normally awarded by the President of the United States in the name of the U.S. Congress. Because the medal is presented "in the name of Congress", it is often referred to informally as the "Congressional Medal of Honor". However, the official name of the current award is "Medal of Honor." Within the United States Code the medal is referred to as the "Medal of Honor", and less frequently as "Congressional Medal of Honor". U.S. awards, including the Medal of Honor, do not have post-nominal titles, and while there is no official abbreviation, the most common abbreviations are "MOH" and "MH".

The Apache are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Salinero, Plains and Western Apache. Distant cousins of the Apache are the Navajo, with which they share the Southern Athabaskan languages. There are Apache communities in Oklahoma, Texas, and reservations in Arizona and New Mexico. Apache people have moved throughout the United States and elsewhere, including urban centers. The Apache Nations are politically autonomous, speak several different languages and have distinct cultures.

Arizona Territory US 19th century-early 20th century territory

The Territory of Arizona was a territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when the remaining extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Arizona. It was created from the western half of the New Mexico Territory during the American Civil War.

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Medal of Honor citation

“The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Lewis Phife, United States Army, for bravery in scouts and actions against Indians from August to October 1868, while serving with Company B, 8th U.S. Cavalry, in action in Arizona Territory.” The Medal was awarded on July 24, 1869.

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References

"Lewis Phife". Hall of Valor. Military Times.