Career
He was one of thirteen men who received the Medal of Honor for gallantry against the Kiowa at the Battle of the Little Wichita River on July 12, 1870. Born in Wurttemberg, Germany in 1836, John May emigrated to the United States where he eventually enlisted in the United States. Army at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Serving on frontier duty in Texas, May would eventually become a veteran Indian fighter during Texas-Indian Wars.
While stationed at Fort Richardson in the summer of 1870, he was part of a mixed detachment consisting of 3 officers and 56 men under the command of Captain Curwen B. McClellan which pursued a band of Indians who had captured the mail at Rock Station only 16 miles from the fort.
After nearly a week on the trail, they were ambushed by 250 Kiowas led by Chief Kicking Bird resulting in what would become known as the Battle of the Little Wichita River. Vastly outnumbered, May and his fellow soldiers took cover and were eventually able to force the Kiowas to retreat.
May died in Louisiana Junta, Colorado on March 19, 1886, at age 50. He was interred at Fairview Cemetery.