Otto Voit
Otto Emil Voit (February 5, 1845 – June 1, 1906) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Otto Emil Voit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 5, 1845 Germany |
| Died | June 1, 1906 (aged 61) Louisville, Kentucky |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1864 - 1898 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Indian Wars |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Biography
Voit was a "saddler" (saddle-maker) with the U.S. Army. He joined the army from Louisville, Kentucky in December 1864.[1] He deserted his unit at a Missouri River post on February 21, 1866 and subsequently reenlisted in Company H of George Armstrong Custer's Seventh Cavalry in December 1866 using the alias Frank May. On December 15, 1873 he surrendered as a deserter and received clemency by Presidential proclamation.
Voit was wounded in the Reno-Benteen hilltop action at the Little Bighorn. He was issued the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878 for his actions during the battle, specifically for providing covering fire for his comrades who went to get water for the wounded on June 25, 1876.
Voit was discharged in 1898 as Saddler Sergeant at Fort Grant, Arizona.[2] He died at age 61 and was buried in Saint Stephens Cemetery in Louisville.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Saddler, Company H, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Little Big Horn, Mont., June 25, 1876. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Germany. Date of issue: October 5, 1878.[3]
Citation:
Volunteered with George Geiger, Charles Windolph, and Henry Mechlin to hold an exposed position standing erect on the brow of the hill facing the Little Big Horn River. They fired constantly in this manner for more than 20 minutes diverting fire and attention from another group filling canteens of water that were desperately needed.[3]
References
- Register of Enlistments in the US Army, 1798-1914
- Armed Forces Journal, Vol. 35, 16 Apr 1898, p.625.
- "Medal of Honor Recipients - Indian Wars Period". U.S. Army Center of Military. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- "Otto Voit". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2006-12-18.
- "Indian Wars Period Medal of Honor recipients". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. 2005-04-19. Retrieved 2006-12-18.