George Ritter Burnett

George Ritter Burnett
Born April 23, 1858(1858-04-23)
Lower Providence Township, Pennsylvania
Died November 1, 1908(1908-11-01) (aged 50)
Lincoln, Nebraska
Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1880–1891
Rank First Lieutenant
Commands held 9th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars Indian Wars
Awards Medal of Honor

George Ritter Burnett (April 23, 1858 – November 1, 1908) was a United States Army officer who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1] He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1880.

Contents

Early life and career

On August 16, 1881, Burnett was serving as an officer with the 9th Cavalry Regiment of the Buffalo Soldiers. On that day, Burnett participated in an engagement in the Cuchillo Negro Mountains of New Mexico, where he was cited for helping rescue stranded soldiers under heavy fire. One of his privates, Augustus Walley, also received the Medal of Honor for this action.

Burnett served as United States Vice Consul and Acting Consul in Kehl, Baden, Germany from September 1905 to March 1907. He also worked at many military preparatory schools.[2]

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization. Second Lieutenant, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Cuchillo Negro Mountains, N. Mex., 16 August 1881. Entered servlce at: Spring Mills, Pa. Birth. Lower Providence Township Pa. Date of issue: 23 July 1897.[1]

Citation:

Saved the life of a dismounted soldier, who was in imminent danger of being cut off, by alone galloping quickly to his assistance under heavy fire and escorting him to a place of safety, his horse being twice shot in this action.

See also

United States Army portal
Biography portal

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.