Brent Woods

Brent Woods (1855 – March 31, 1906) was an African American 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

Woods was born a slave in Pulaski County, Kentucky and freed at the age of 8. He joined the US Army from Louisville, Kentucky in 1873 at the age of 18 and was assigned to Company B of the 9th Cavalry Regiment. On August 19, 1881, he participated in an engagement in New Mexico against Chief Nana and a small band of Apaches. After the deaths of six men in his cavalry, including his lieutenant, Woods took command and fought to save the lives of many of his comrades. Thirteen years later, on July 12, 1894, Sergeant Woods was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the engagement. He retired from the army in 1902 and returned to Somerset. Woods died in 1906 at the age of 50 or 51 and was buried in an unmarked grave at the First Baptist Church of Somerset.