First Medal of Honor action
The earliest military action to be revered with a Medal of Honor award is performed by Colonel Bernard J.D.Irwin an assistant army surgeon serving in the first major U.S.-Apache conflict.Near Apache Pass in southeastern Arizona Irwin an Irish-born doctor volunteered to go to the rescue of Second Lieutenant George N.
Bascom who was trapped with 60 men of the U.S.Seventh Infantry by the Chiricahua Apaches.Irwin and 14 men initially without horses began the 100-mile trek to Bascoms forces riding on mules.
After fighting and capturing Apaches along the way and recovering stolen horses and cattle they reached Bascoms forces on February 14 and proved instrumental in breaking the siege.The first U.S.-Apache conflict had begun several days before when Cochise the Chiricahua Apache chief kidnapped three white men to exchange for his brother and two nephews held by the U.S.Army on false charges of stealing cattle and kidnapping a child.When the exchange was refused Cochise killed the white men and the army responded by killing his relatives setting off the first of the Apache wars.Although Irwins bravery in this conflict was the earliest Medal of Honor action the award itself was not created until 1862 and it was not until January 21 1894 that Irwin received the nations highest military honor.
