Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Second Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Arthur Harrison Wilson

Second Lieutenant Arthur Harrison Wilson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 4, 1909 at Patian Island, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection.

Philippine Insurrection July 4, 1909

Second Lieutenant Arthur Harrison Wilson was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 4, 1909 at Patian Island, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with 6th U.S. Cavalry. Wilson was 27 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 23, 1912, 3 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Colonel.

Wilson was born on August 17, 1881 in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. Wilson died on December 15, 1953 in Port Isabel, Texas, at the age of 72. He is buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.

Wilson is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While in action against hostile Moros, when, it being necessary to secure a mountain gun in position by rope and tackle, voluntarily and with the assistance of an enlisted man, carried the rope forward and fastened it, being all the time under heavy fire of the enemy at short-range.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Philippine–American War.

Places

  • Born: Springfield — map
  • Died: Brownsville — map
  • Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. August 17, 1881
    Born in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois
  2. July 4, 1909
    Act of valor — Patian Island, Philippine Islands
    Age 27. 6th U.S. Cavalry
  3. November 23, 1912
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 15, 1953
    Died in Port Isabel, Texas
    Age 72.
  5. Resting place
    Oak Ridge Cemetery
    Springfield, Illinois

Biography

Arthur Harrison Wilson (1881–1953) was an officer in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Philippine Insurrection. Originally a member of the West Point class of 1903, he was held back a year and graduated in 1904. He was the captain of the world champion West Point Polo Team, and served a long career in the Cavalry. He was a full colonel and commander of Fort Brown, Texas, when he retired in 1942 after almost 40 years service. He lived the remaining 11 years of his life in retirement at Brownsville, Texas. He died of cardiac failure while duck hunting, one of his favorite sports.

From the Wikipedia article “Arthur H. Wilson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 4, 1909

John Thomas Kennedy Second Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909

Same unit

William Harding Carter First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1881 Benjamin Harrison Cheever Jr. First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 Thomas Cruse Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882 John Brown Kerr Captain · Army Indian Campaigns · 1891 Archie Miller First Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1909 Frank West First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882

More Philippine Insurrection recipients from Illinois

Matthew Arlington Batson First Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 HS Henry Frank Schroeder Sergeant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1900
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.