JOHN N. OPEL
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

John Opel's Medal of Honor citation:

OPEL, JOHN N.

Rank and organization: Private, Company G, 7th Indiana Infantry.
Place and date: At Wilderness, Va., 5 May 1864.
Entered service at: Decatur County, Ind.
Birth: 30 July 1843.
Date of issue: 1 December 1864.
Citation: Capture of flag of 50th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).

Many Civil War and Indian Campaigns recipients had little in their citations.

I did find that Private Opel died on 21 February 1925 and is buried in Mount Zion Cemetery, Pleasant Hill Township, Sullivan County, Missouri. He was born in Hoflas, Bavaria, Germany, and entered the Army at Rossburg, Indiana.

From the American Legion, Browning, Mo. Post 274

In Mt. Zion Cemetery (one of Sullivan County's Post #274-decorated cemeteries) is the grave of one John Opel. John was awarded the highest of military honors: The Congressional Medal of Honor. His bravery occurred in the Civil War. Established by George Washington, the Medal of Honor has been presented to fewer than 400 of our nation's heros!

Another grave (in Price Cemetery) is that of a veteran of the War of 1812. This, too, is a man we honor. Safeguarding our country and its ideals spans wars and times and service that range more sweeping than what WE saw and WE remember.

John N. Opel is listed in the Sullivan Co., History, Vol. 1 as being the postmaster of the post office in OPEL in Sullivan Co., Mo. 2 May 1882.

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