Clinton Greaves, SGT

Clinton Greaves (August 12, 1855 – August 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.

Biography

Greaves was born in Madison County, Virginia on August 12, 1855. He 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.

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

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, Company C, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Florida Mountains, N. Mex., January 24, 1877. Entered service at: Prince Georges County, Md. Birth: Madison County, Va. Date of issue: June 26, 1879.

Citation:

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.

Namesake

Camp Greaves, a US Army installation located near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the Republic of Korea (South Korea), is named in honor of Sergeant (SGT) Greaves.