Citation

Voluntarily and at the risk of his life, under a severe fire of the enemy, aided and ass1sted to the rear an officer who had been severely wounded and left on the field, at Vicksburg, MS

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/752/kephart-james.php

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7414439

ivil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. At the start of the Civil War, he enlisted in the US Army and served as a Private in Company C, 13th US Infantry. During the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi, on May 19, 1863, Private Kephart noticed a severely wounded Union Army officer lying exposed upon the field of battle. Despite the enemy severe hail of fire, he voluntarily risked his life to go to the aid of the wounded officer and assist him to a rear area of safety. For gallantry in action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor

http://www.homeofheroes.com/photos/1_civilwar/kephart_james.html

James Kephart made his home in Webster City, Iowa where after the war he was active in veterans programs, serving as grand commander of the Winfield Scott Post No. 66, Department of Iowa, G.A.R. He also served as a member of the Webster City Board of Education for many years. He later moved to Gooding, Idaho, where he died in 1932.

http://museum.mil.idaho.gov/Newsletters/4thQtr2003.pdf

On February 14, 1891, General William T. Sherman died11 and James Kephart, “a personal friend…was one of the pall bearers at Gen. Sherman’s funeral.”