Ed Hooper: Iconic Medal of Honor discovered in Arkansas
Someone sent us a link to the story that Ed Hooper tells about his search for the legacy of Buffalo Soldier First Sergeant George Jordan.
Jordan was born in 1847 in Williamson County, Tennessee, enlisting in the Army six months after President Andrew Johnson signed the 1866 bill allowing African-Americans to serve in the post-Civil War Army. Jordan educated himself, learning how to read and write, and joined K Troop four years later. He remained there throughout his career, proving to be one of the best field commanders in the Army west of the Mississippi. No one buffalo soldier so epitomized their motto of “We can. We will.” The white officers in charge of the all-black units often trusted Jordan with half of their commands because of knowledge and skill in the field. He served 30 years in the Army and retired.
Jordan was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1890 for his actions as a Sergeant, with Company K, 9th U.S. Cavalry at Fort Tularosa, N. Mex., May 14, 1880 and at Carrizo Canyon, N. Mex., August 12, 1881. His citation says;
While commanding a detachment of 25 men at Fort Tularosa, N. Mex., repulsed a force of more than 100 Indians. At Carrizo Canyon, N . Mex., while commanding the right of a detachment of 19 men, on 12 August 1881, he stubbornly held his ground in an extremely exposed position and gallantly forced back a much superior number of the enemy, preventing them from surrounding the command.
Hooper’s search leads to the discovery of Jordan’s Medal of Honor, which it turns out, had been used as a decoration on a Christmas tree in Arkansas;
Jordan’s personal effects were placed in a barrel by his friends after he died and deposited with the Army to hold for his next of kin. None ever showed, and around 1909 a ranch manager’s widow in Nebraska bought the barrel at auction for $1. It was passed to her schoolteacher daughters, who never married and then willed it to their caretaker, Janet Mize, who later moved to Arkansas.
Mize said during the time the sisters possessed the barrel, most of the old photos of black soldiers, personal items and Jordan’s military accouterments got parceled out. The Medal of Honor itself was saved only by the shining brass that made it a useful Christmas tree decoration in a historic home.
Category: Real Soldiers
“The Medal of Honor itself was saved only by the shining brass…”
No “shining brass” these days. Sadly they are made of plastic of some sort.
Thank you or sharing the story of Ed Hooper.
They damned well ought to be made of gold…
+1k^10E7
Not sure if that was sarcasm or not, but they are definitely not plastic. Even the lowest service medals are still metal. I’m sure the MoH is as well.
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=130511&page=1
According to ABC News it’s made from a brass alloy.
Not pure brass. Unlike the huge testes of the recipients of the MoH.
I’ve always found it interesting that Britain’s highest award for Valor, the Victoria Cross, is a dull bronze.
This is because they are traditionally made from pieces of captured enemy cannons stored in the company offices of the jewelers, Hancocks of London.
They are specifically made out of one cannon captured during the battle for Sevastopol during the Crimean War.
I just know that they break easily and have been repaired more than once with superglue. They are not heavy at all.
I’ve never seen one in person that wasn’t behind glass. I certainly believe you though.
I’ve been very fortunate to see several in person and hold a couple of them. All for GWOT guys. Maybe (apparently) the material for the Medal itself has changed through the years.
The ribbon they are on is silk. Anything heavy would cause the ribbon to “stretch” and not hold a heavy object (the Medal) up properly.
I’ve only been in the presence of one not behind glass, a Vietnam-era award to Captain Kelley USN (ret). I was surprised at how delicate the ribbon looked.
Wow. It’s a shame all those old photos have disappeared somewhere, but to find that piece of history, and provide the history that goes with it is amazing in itself.
Kudos to the man who did the due diligence.
Thank you for your service, Mr. Hooper. I’m humbled by your contributions.
Especially by the bravery and loyalty of black men who, even though they were rejected by American society at almost every turn, still persevered.
Another hero of mine is Bass Reeves, supposedly the model for the Lone Ranger. Very impressive man and rejected out of hand by our society.
An article about him:
http://politicalblindspot.com/the-real-lone-ranger-was-an-african-american-lawman-who-lived-with-native-american-indians/
“Fort Robinson’s Hospital’s inaction brought national rebuke from the Surgeon General regarding the medical treatment of retired veterans.” Some things never change.
Some years ago there was a bill introduced in Congress to at least place the CMOH metal value (about $30) on par with the Presidential Gold Medal (about $30,000) but the bill faded. Even an Olympic GM is silver, covered in gold, and more valuable, for its composition, than a CMOH. So? So this. If the CMOH were made a rice paper, it would still be the most prestigious medal an American can receive. There is it, and then, somewhere over there and way back, are the others.
The value of the Medal of Honor is not in the metal from which it is struck,
but from the Mettle of those peerless few who have been nominated to bear it.
Absent the men, those gallant few, the bauble loses all luster.
At today’s prices, $30,000 would amount to about 24 ounces of gold. It seems like a lot for a Presidential Gold Medal. Are you sure you don’t have it confused with the Snoop Dogg Gangsta Award for rapper roadie excellence?
For eight years, the two were one and the same.
Thank you for this piece of news…I believe Danny Glover portrayed 1stSgt George Jordan in the 1997 movie “Buffalo Soldiers.”
Not according to IMDB.
Danny Glover played ‘Sgt Washington Wyatt’ and the movie follows an H Troop, not a K Troop.
Also 10th Cav v 9th Cav.
https://www.fold3.com/page/935876011st_sergeant_george_jordan
Those two battles are right in my present AO. I’m truly humbled that I drove right through there on my way out of work a week ago. Next time I will stop and give some attention to that great man and his life in the area.
Movie called Sergeant Rutledge. by John Ford. If you get a chance to watch it, I believe you’ll enjoy it. You do have to watch it to the end though.
Thanks! Could not recall the name of the movie, but was searching for it earlier. The main character was a highly respected First Sergeant from the 9th. Haven’t seen it in years, but remember it being quite good. Probably based on a compilation of warriors such as George Jordon.