Illinois Congressional
Medal of Honor Recipients
RING OF HONOR – Illinois’ Medal of Honor Recipients
The Ring of Honor contains the names of the Medal of Honor Recipients who were born in Illinois or their Award was accredited to this State. The dates on their bronze plaques are their Medal of Honor action date.
The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest military decoration, established during the Civil War in 1861. It was initially created to honor Navy personnel for their exceptional bravery and valor but was later expanded to include the other branches of the US Armed Forces. This prestigious award is reserved for those who display conspicuous gallantry and selflessness in the face of extreme danger. Over the years, the history of the Medal of Honor has been marked by countless acts of heroism and valor, with recipients coming from all branches of the U.S. military and various conflicts.
Allen J. Lynch is a distinguished Medal of Honor recipient who earned this honor for his actions during the Vietnam War. Sergeant Lynch served as a medic and displayed extraordinary courage on December 15, 1967, during an intense firefight. Despite being wounded, Sgt. Lynch repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue wounded comrades. His selfless dedication to saving lives under enemy fire earned him the Medal of Honor in 1970, making him one of the many celebrated heroes of the Vietnam War. He served on the Board of the Fox Valley Patriotic Organization, which created this Flag Day Monument.
Admiral James B. Stockdale is another remarkable figure in the history of the Medal of Honor. Although he was not initially awarded the medal for actions on the battlefield, Adm. Stockdale's story is a testament to his incredible resilience as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. In 1965, his plane was shot down, and he was captured by the North Vietnamese. Stockdale endured seven and a half years of brutal captivity, becoming the highest-ranking naval officer to be held as a POW in North Vietnam. His unwavering leadership and resistance to his captors inspired fellow POWs and earned him the Medal of Honor in 1976, reflecting the profound sacrifices made by American service members in captivity.
The Medal of Honor represents the highest level of bravery and valor in the U.S. military. The Medal of Honor recipients exemplify the extraordinary courage and selflessness that this award honors. Their actions, whether on the battlefield or in the harrowing conditions of captivity, serve as a testament to the indomitable spirit of American service members and their commitment to the principles of honor and sacrifice.
To learn more about the heroic Americans and the Medal of Honor, visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s website, https://www.cmohs.org/
Medal of Honor:
MAJ JOHN M. SCHOFIELD
8/10/1861
ARMY
MUS GEORGE H. PALMER
9/20/1861
ARMY
SMAN HENRY C. COURTNEY
2/7/1882
NAVY
CAPT WILLIAM P. BLACK
3/7/1862
ARMY
PVT JOHN W. MCDONALD
4/6/1862
ARMY
SGT EDWARD B. SPALDING
4/6/1862
ARMY
PVT ELWOOD N. WILLIAMS
4/6/1862
ARMY
SGT HORACE CAPRON, JR.
06/01/1862
ARMY
1ST SGT EDWARD M. PIKE
7/7/1862
ARMY
1ST LT WELLS H. BLODGETT
9/30/1862
ARMY
1ST LIEUT ADJT JAMES W ARCHER
10/4/1862
ARMY
PVT JOHN G. BOURKE
12/01/1862
ARMY
LTC JOHN C. BLACK
12/7/1862
ARMY
SGT HENRY FOX
12/23/1862
ARMY
BM WILLIAM MARTIN
12/27/1862
NAVY
2ND LT JAMES D. VERNAY
4/22/1863
ARMY
PVT WILLIAM W. BURRITT
4/27/1863
ARMY
MUS ORION P. HOWE
5/19/1863
ARMY
PVT JOHN G.K. AYERS
5/22/1863 ARMY
CORP MATTHEW BICKFORD
PVT EMMER BOWEN
5/22/1863 ARMY
SGT CARLOS W. COLBY
CORP ROBERT M. COX
5/22/1863 ARMY
PVT JAMES S. CUNNINGHAM
SGT MARTIN K. DAVIS
5/22/1863 ARMY
SGT DAVID DICKIE
CORP JAMES DUNNE
5/22/1863 ARMY
1ST LT JOHN H. FISHER
PVT WILLIAM W. FRASER
5/22/1863 ARMY
CAPT NICHOLAS GESCHWIND
PVT ANDREW E. GOLDSBERY
5/22/1863 ARMY
PVT NEWTON T. GOULD
SGT JAMES HENRY
5/22/1863 ARMY
SGT THOMAS J. HIGGINS
1ST SGT THEODORE HYATT
5/22/1863 ARMY
CORP ELISHA JOHNS
PVT ANDREW JOHNSON
5/22/1863 ARMY
PVT DAVID H. JOHNSTON
PVT CHARLES H. KLOTH
5/22/1863 ARMY
PVT GEORGE KRETSINGER
PVT JOSEPH S. LABILL
5/22/1863 ARMY
CORP JAMES W. LARRABEE
PVT ROBERT A. LOWER
5/22/1863 ARMY
PVT ANDREW MCCORNACK
PVT PATRICK MCGUIRE
5/22/1863 ARMY
PVT JACOB C. MILLER
PVT JEROME MORFORD
5/22/1863 ARMY
CORP THOMAS C. MURPHY
PVT JOHN O'DEA
5/22/1863 ARMY
CORP WINTHROP D. PUTNAM
PVT WILLIAM REED
5/22/1863 ARMY
PVT CHARLES W. RUNDLE
PVT JACOB SANFORD
5/22/1863 ARMY
PVT BENJAMIN W. SCHENCK
CORP BENONA SPRAGUE
5/22/1863 ARMY
PVT WILLIAM G STEPHENS
1ST LT GEORGE H. STOCKMAN
5/22/1863 ARMY
SGT WILLIAM TOOMER
PVT THOMAS J. WARD
5/22/1863 ARMY
CORP JOHN WARDEN
CAPT RICHARD H. WOOD
5/22/1863 ARMY
SMAN JAMES E. FLYNN
BM HENRY DOW
5/27/1863
NAVY
1ST LT NINEVEH S.MCKEEN
6/25/1863
ARMY
SGT HENRY H. TAYLOR
6/25/1863
ARMY
PVT RICHARD J GAGE
7/2/1863 ARMY
PVT REUBEN S. SMALLEY
CORP LEMUEL F. HOLLAND
7/2/1863 ARMY
PVT GEORGE L. HOUGHTON
SGT GEORGE MARSH
7/2/1863
ARMY
PVT JOHN SHAPLAND
7/2/1863 ARMY
PVT OSCAR SLAGLE
1ST LT SIMEON T JOSSELYN
11/25/1863
ARMY
SGT LEVERETT M. KELLEY
11/25/1863
ARMY
SGM JOHN M FARQUHAR
12/31/1863
ARMY
LDS WILLIAM P. JOHNSTON
3/2/1864
NAVY
1ST LT MENOMEN O'DONNELL
3/14/1864
ARMY
SGT JOHN H. COOK
4/9/1864
ARMY
SMAN HUGH MOLLOY
4/16/1864
NAVY
SMAN JOHN HYLAND
5/5/1864
NAVY
BM MICHAEL MCCORMICK
5/5/1864
NAVY
QG CHARLES M. ASTEN
5/5/1864
NAVY
SGT MOSES A. LUCE
5/10/1864
ARMY
PVT MARCELLUS J. NEWMAN
5/14/1864
ARMY
PVT GEORGE F. POND
5/15/1864
ARMY
LTC DOUGLAS HAPEMAN
7/20/1864
ARMY
CHAPLAIN MILTON L. HANEY
7/22/1864
ARMY
PVT GEORGE W. LUCAS
7/25/1864
ARMY
MUS ROBINSON B. MURPHY
7/28/1864
ARMY
LDS DANIEL NOBLE
8/5/1864
NAVY
PVT HENRY M. HARDENBERGH
8/16/1864
ARMY
PVT JOHN T. STERLING
9/19/1864
ARMY
PVT JOHN CREED
9/22/1864
ARMY
CAPT SAMUEL HYMER
10/13/1864
ARMY
SGT JOHN S. DARROUGH
10/19/1864
ARMY
CORP JAMES K. MERRIFIELD
11/30/1864
ARMY
CORP ANDREW J SMITH
11/30/1864
ARMY
PILOT JOHN H. FERRELL
12/6/1864
NAVY
CORP SAMUEL J. CHURCHILL
12/15/1864
ARMY
COL PHILIP S. POST
12/16/1864 ARMY
PVT WILBUR F. MOORE
CORP JAMES W. PARKS
12/16/1864 ARMY
1ST LT WILLIAM T. SIMMONS
OVT GEORGE STOKES
12/16/1864
ARMY
1ST LIEUT ADJT FREDERICK E. SMITH
2/6/1865
ARMY
CORP ABNER P. ALLEN
4/2/1865 ARMY
CORP PATRICK HIGHLAND
​
SGT THOMAS MCGRAW
4/3/1865
ARMY
CORP WESLEY J POWERS
4/6/1865
ARMY
CORP JOHN P. HUGHEY
4/6/1865
ARMY
PVT WILLIAM T. HOLMES
4/6/1865
ARMY
PVT JOHN H. CALLAHAN
4/9/1865 ARMY
CAPT SAMUEL MCCONNELL
CAPT HENRY A. MILLER
4/9/1865 ARMY
1ST LT THOMAS H.L PAYNE
CAPT PATRICK H. PENTZER
4/9/1865 ARMY
SGT GEORGE F. REBMANN
LTC LOYD WHEATON
4/9/1865 ARMY
PVT JOHN W. WHITMORE
CORP JAMES MCDONALD
8/13/1868
ARMY
PVT JOHN HALL
08/22-10/19/1868
ARMY
PVT THOMAS CARROLL
8/22/1868
ARMY
PVT JOSEPH WATSON
6/4/1869
ARMY
CORP PHILIP MURPHY
8/25/1869
ARMY
PVT JOHN TRACY
10/20/1869
ARMY
PVT JAMES SUMNER
10/20/1869
ARMY
SGT JOHN THOMPSON
10/20/1869
ARMY
1ST SGT LEROY H. VOKES
4/26/1872
ARMY
CORP JOHN J. H. KELLY
9/9/1874 ARMY
1ST SGT JOHN MITCHELL
TRUM ELMER A. SNOW
6/17/1876
ARMY
PVT NEIL BANCROFT
6/25/1876
ARMY
PVT THEODORE W.B. GOLDIN
6/26/1876
ARMY
PVT JAMES S. CALVERT
10/21/1876 - 01/08/1877
ARMY
CORP EDWARD JOHNSTON
10/21/1876 - 01/08/1877
ARMY
PVT PHILIP KENNEDY
10/21/1876 - 01/08/1877
ARMY
CORP CHARLES WILSON
10/21/1876 - 01/08/1877
ARMY
2ND LT EDWARD J. MCCLERNAND
09/30/1877
ARMY
CAPT ELI L. HUGGINS
4/1/1880
ARMY
SGT SAMUEL H. CRAIG
5/15/1886
ARMY
SGT JAMES T. DANIELS
3/7/1890
ARMY
1ST SGT FREDERICK E. TOY
12/29/1890
ARMY
PVT GEORGE HOBDAY
12/29/1890
ARMY
SGT JOSEPH F. KNIGHT
1/1/1891
ARMY
CM3C WILLIAM MEYER
5/11/1898
NAVY
F1C JAMES L. HULL
5/21/1898
NAVY
ASST SURG JAMES R. CHURCH
6/24/1898
ARMY
PVT GEORGE F. BERG
7/1/1898
ARMY
PVT RICHARD M. LONGFELLOW
5/16/1899
ARMY
PVT FRANK F. ROSS
5/16/1899
ARMY
1ST LT MATTHEW A. BATSON
7/26/1899
ARMY
SMAN HUGH P. MULLIN
11/11/1899
NAVY
MAJ JOHN A. LOGAN, JR
11/11/1899
ARMY
SGT HENRY F. SCHROEDER
09/14/1900
ARMY
BM1C WILLIAM E. HOLYOKE
06/20-22/1900
NAVY
PVT WILLIAM M. HORTON
07/21-08/17/1900
USMC
PVT OSCAR J. UPHAM
07/21/-08/17/1900
USMC
SGT JOHN H. HELMS
01/10/1901
USMC
BM WILLIAM S. CRONAN
07/21/1905
NAVY
SMAN RADE GRBITCH
07/21/1905
NAVY
1ST LT ARCHIE MILLER
07/02/1909
ARMY
2ND LT ARTHUR H. WILSON
07/04/1909
ARMY
MML1 CHARLES C. ROBERTS
09/08/1910
NAVY
SMAN JOHN H. CATHERWOOD
09/24/1911
NAVY
CWT EUGENE P. SMITH
09/09/1915
NAVY
1ST LT ERNEST C. WILLIAMS
11/29/1916
USMC
LT EDOUARD V.M. LZAC
05/21/1918
NAVY
LT JG WEEDON E. OSBORNE
06/06/1918
NAVY
CORP THOMAS A. POPE
07/04/1918
ARMY
CORP JAKE ALLEX
08/09/1918
ARMY
1ST SGT SYDNEY G. GUMPERTZ
09/29/1918
ARMY
PVT JOHN J KELLY
10/03/1918
USMC
PVT STERLING L MORELOCK
10/04/1918
ARMY
SGT MICHAEL B. ELLIS
10/05/1918
ARMY
1ST LT HAROLD E. GOETTLER
10/06/1918
ARMY AIR SERVICE
CORP RALYN M.HILL
10/07/1918
ARMY
1ST SGT JOHANNES S. ANDERSON
10/08/1918
ARMY
PVT BERGER H, LOMAN
10/09/1918
ARMY
GYSGT ROBERT G. ROBINSON
10/14/1918
USMC
SGT HAROLD I. JOHNSTON
11/09/1918
ARMY
1ST LT CHRISTIAN F. SCHILT
01/06-08/1928
USMC
CMM WILLIAM BADDERS
05/23/1939
NAVY
MAJ KENNETH D. BAILEY
09/12-13/1942
USMC
LTC ADDISON E. BAKER
08/01/1943
ARMY AIR CORPS
CAPT JOHN P. CROMWELL
11/19/1943
NAVY
TEC 5 ERIC G. GIBSON
01/28/1944
ARMY
2ND LT WALTER E. TRUEMPER
02/20/1944
ARMY AIR CORPS
1ST LT EDWARD S. MICHAEL
04/11/1944
ARMY AIR CORPS
1ST LT CARLOS C. OGDEN, SR.
06/25/1944
ARMY
PVT JOSEPH W. OZBOURN
07/28/1944
USMC
PFC FRANK P. WITEK
08/03/1944
USMC
PFC ROBERT L. WILSON
08/04/1944
USMC
SSG STANLEY BENDER
08/17/1944
ARMY
PVT HAROLD A.GARMAN
08/25/1944
ARMY
PFC RICHARD E. KRAUS
10/05/1944
USMC
SSG CLYDE L. CHOATE
10/25/1944
ARMY
T SGT ROBERT E. GERSTUNG
12/19/1944
ARMY
CDR EUGENE B. FLUCKEY
12/19/44 - 02/15/1945
NAVY
T SGT RUSSELL DUNHAM
01/08/1945
ARMY
M SGT VITO R. BERTOLDO
01/09-10/1945
ARMY
PFC MANUEL PEREZ, JR.
02/13/1945
ARMY
WT1C ELMER C. BIGELOW
02/14/1945
NAVY
CAPT ROBERT H. DUNLAP
02/20-21/1945
USMC
CAPT JOSEPH J. MCCARTHY
02/21/1945
USMC
2ND LT JOHN H. LEIMS
03/07/1945
USMC
PFC EDWARD J, MOSKALA
04/09/1945
ARMY
CORP JOHN P. FARDY
05/07/1945
USMC
PFC ANTON L. KROTIAK
05/08/1945
ARMY
CORP JAMES L. DAY
05/17/1945
USMC
HA1 FRED F. LESTER
06/08/1945
NAVY
MAJ GEN WILLIAM F. DEAN, SR
07/20/1950
ARMY
MAJ LOUIS J. SEBILLE
08/05/1950
USAF
PFC RICHARD G. WILSON
10/21/1950
ARMY
SGT JAMES I. POYNTER
11/04/1950
USMC
SSG WILLIAM G. WINDRICH
12/01/1950
USMC
CAPT EDWARD C. KRZYZOWSKI
08/31-09/03/1951
ARMY
HM JOHN E. KILMER
08/13/1952
NAVY
CORP LESTER HAMMOND, JR.
08/14/1952
ARMY
PFC MILTON L. OLIVE, ILL
10/22/1965
ARMY
SGT JAMES W, ROBINSON, JR.
04/11/1966
ARMY
PFC JOHN F. BAKER, JR
11/05/1966
ARMY
PFC JAMES H. MONROE
02/16/1967
ARMY
SGT LEONARD B. KELLER
05/02/1967
ARMY
SP4 CARMEL B. HARVEY, JR.
06/21/1967
ARMY
CAPT GERALD O. YOUNG
11/09/1967
USAF
SP4 ALLEN J. LYNCH
12/15/1967
ARMY
CORP JERRY W. WICKAM
01/06/1968
ARMY
PFC ROBERT C. BURKE
05/17/1968
USMC
1ST LT HAROLD A. FRITZ
01/11/1969
ARMY
LANCE CPL LESTER W, WEBER
02/23/1969
USMC
PFC DANIEL D, BRUCE
03/01/1969
USMC
PFC ALFRED M. WILSON
03/03/1969
USMC
SSG FELIX M. CONDE-FALCON
04/04/1969
ARMY
SP4 MICHAEL R. BLANCHFIELD
07/03/1969
ARMY
CAPT JAMES B. STOCKDALE
09/04/1969
NAVY
LANCE CPL EMILIO A. DE LA GARZA, JR.
04/11/1970
USMC
PFC KENNETH M. KAYS
05/07/1970
ARMY
MAJ JOHN J DUFFY
04/14-15/1972
ARMY