Bernhard Jetter was born in the
Kingdom of Württemberg in 1862. He immigrated into the United States at
New York City, New York, on April 17, 1881. Bernard Jetter
(sic) re-enlisted near Rapid City on June 5, 1888. Jetter was among the cavalry troops sent to arrest Chief
Big Foot and disarm his
Sioux followers and, on the morning of December 29, 1890, surrounded their camp on the banks of
Wounded Knee Creek. In the ensuing
Wounded Knee Massacre, Jetter and several other soldiers took part in
search-and-destroy missions along
White Clay Creek and were cited for "distinguished bravery" in skirmishes against the Sioux. Jetter himself was witnessed "killing an Indian who was in the act of killing a wounded man" in his unit. He and nineteen other members of his regiment were awarded the
Medal of Honor on April 24, 1891. Jetter was discharged as a
first sergeant on June 4, 1893, at
Fort Sheridan. Jetter was naturalized as a U.S. Citizen on July 10, 1896, in the
U.S. District Court in New York, New York; his occupation at the time was "U.S. soldier." Jetter returned to Brooklyn after leaving military service and died in
Brooklyn on August 23, 1927, at the age of 65; his wife Rose survived him. He was interred at
Cypress Hills National Cemetery. ==Medal of Honor citation==