Sergeant James H. Burbank (January 5, 1838 – February 15, 1911) was a Dutch soldier who fought in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. Burbank received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

, for his action at Blackwater, near Franklin, Virginia on 3 October 1862. He was honored with the award on 27 July 1896.

Biography

Burbank was born as Reinder Jilderts in

Stavoren Stavoren (; fry, Starum; previously Staveren) is a city in the province of Friesland, Netherlands, on the coast of the IJsselmeer, about 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Hindeloopen, in the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân. Stavoren had a population ...

Friesland Friesland (, ; official fry, Fryslân ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of ...

in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

on 5 January 1838 and migrated to the United States. He enlisted into the 1st Rhode Island Volunteers on 16 April 1861 at Providence, Rhode Island. He was promoted to second sergeant and later served as a non-commissioned first sergeant. Burbank served an 11-month stint with the navy, on detached service. It was during this service that he performed the act of gallantry that earned him the medal of honor. On October 1862 he was aboard the Commodore Perry at Black Water, near Franklin, Virginia. He served with outstanding bravery despite heavy fire and despite thirteen shots piercing his coat. Following the war Burbank married Mary A. Burns, who had emigrated from Glasgow, Scotland, and they resided in Rhode Island. He subsequently moved to Missouri and then Kansas. Their marriage produced seven children.

Medal of Honor citation

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burbank, James H. 1838 births 1911 deaths American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Dutch emigrants to the United States Foreign-born Medal of Honor recipients People of Rhode Island in the American Civil War Union Army officers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients People from Nijefurd

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References