Medal of Honor Recipient John Vale
Pvt. Vale (1835-1909) was a member of the 2nd Minnesota Infantry. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic action to hold off a large Confederate attack to save a wagon train at Nolensville, Tennessee on February 15, 1863. He was born in England, moved to Scott County, Iowa and then to Minnesota where he enlisted in the 2nd Minnesota. After the war he farmed in Minnesota and later moved back to Scott County where he farmed and worked as a mail clerk. He is buried in Oakdale Memorial Gardens in the east central part of the city - take Eastern Avenue north from Locust Street. The name on the stone faces away from the road and is hard to locate - it is in the NW part of the cemetery near a large red boulder with name of Putnam on it - it sets behind the Wm. Schaefer stone. Photos taken 10/9/20.