Who was the first African American awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery at Fort Wagner?

• A. William Carney
• B. Philip Bazaar
• C. Ulysses S. Grant
• D. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

Answer: (A)

This question centers on a historic moment when African American soldiers earned the Medal of Honor for bravery at Fort Wagner. William Harvey Carney, a member of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, is remembered for grabbing the American flag when the color bearers fell under heavy fire and carrying it forward while wounded. He kept the flag aloft and did not let it touch the ground, a powerful symbol of resilience and morale for his unit. For this act of courage, he became the first African American to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at Fort Wagner (the award was given in 1900).

The other names are associated with different contexts: one earned the Medal of Honor for actions at a different Civil War battle; another was a Union general who did not perform Fort Wagner-era valor for which African American soldiers were recognized; and the last was a Confederate general, not a recipient tied to Fort Wagner.