William McBryar

Who was William McBryar?

William McBryar 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 during the Cherry Creek Campaign in Arizona Territory.

McBryar joined the Army from New York City and by March 7, 1890 was serving as a Sergeant in Company K of the 10th Cavalry Regiment. On that day, he participated in an engagement in Arizona where he "[d]istinguished himself for coolness, bravery and marksmanship while his troop was in pursuit of hostile Apache Indians." For his actions, Sergeant McBryar was awarded the Medal of Honor two months later, on May 15, 1890.

McBryar later became a commissioned officer and left the Army as a First Lieutenant. He died at age 80 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.