Andrew O. Apple (January 30, 1845 – June 7, 1890) was a United States soldier and native of Pennsylvania who fought with the Union Army as a member of the 12th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War.

He was recognized with his nation's highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for "conspicuous gallantry as color bearer in the assault on Fort Gregg" during the Third Battle of Petersburg, Virginia, on April 2, 1865.

Also residing at the home with Andrew and his parents were siblings: Theodore, George, Elizabeth, and William (born, respectively, circa 1841, 1843, 1846, and 1849).

Ordered to Bermuda Hundred in late December, the regiment was then assigned to trench duties in the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign until March 1865.

[8] On April 2, 1865, while fighting with his regiment in the Third Battle of Petersburg, Apple performed the act of conspicuous gallantry which later resulted in his being awarded the U.S. Medal of Honor.

Singled out as one of 40 men to be placed on detached duty in May, he and the other group members were ordered to board a steamer, and placed in charge of guarding a series of boxes which they initially were told contained guns.

A member of Elgin's First Congregational Church, he was also active with his local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic,[11] serving as Officer of the Day for post number 49 from 1885-1886 and in 1889.

[18] Following funeral services at the First Congregational Church in Elgin, the hearse carrying his remains was escorted to his gravesite by comrades from his G.A.R.

Citation:[20][21] The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Corporal Andrew O. Apple, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on April 2, 1865, while serving with Company I, 12th West Virginia Infantry, in action at Petersburg, Virginia, for conspicuous gallantry as Color Bearer in the assault on Fort Gregg.When interviewed in January 1890 about his being given the Medal of Honor, Apple described how the award presentation and subsequent events unfolded in May 1865:[4] The first I knew that I had done anything out of the ordinary line was, one morning while we were in camp at Richmond, after coming from the scene of Lee's surrender, the orderly sergeant stopped at my tent and asked if I wanted to go home.

Even then none of our party realized what it was that we were to take such wonderful care of, and not until the cases had been opened in our presence before all the cabinet members did we learn that they contained General Lee's battle flags.... [W]e were placed in front of a camera, and then Secretary of War Stanton gave us the freedom of the city, two months' pay, a furlough of thirty days, together with free transportation to our homes and back....

As we stepped forward, General Ord's daughter came up and pinned a Congressional medal of honor on the breast of each one, and for the first time we understood that the country had decorated us with the highest possible gift as a reward for bravery....