Clinton Greaves

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Clinton Greaves
August 12, 1855August 18, 1906
Place of birth Madison County, Virginia
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Sergeant
Unit 9th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars Indian Wars
Awards Medal of Honor

Clinton Greaves (August 12, 1855August 18, 1906) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.

Greaves joined the Army from Prince George's County, Maryland, and by January 24, 1877 was serving as a Corporal in Company C of the 9th Cavalry Regiment. On that day, Greaves was part of a detachment which participated in an engagement in the Florida Mountains of New Mexico. For his actions during the battle, he was awarded the Medal of Honor two years later, on June 26, 1879.

Corporal Greaves' official Medal of Honor citation reads:

While part of a small detachment to persuade a band of renegade Apache Indians to surrender, his group was surrounded. Cpl. Greaves in the center of the savage hand-to-hand fighting, managed to shoot and bash a gap through the swarming Apaches, permitting his companions to break free.

Greaves reached the rank of Sergeant before leaving the Army. He died at age 51 and was buried in Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio.

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