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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Charles Evans Kilbourne Jr.

First Lieutenant Charles Evans Kilbourne Jr., Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on February 5, 1899 at Paco Bridge, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection.

Philippine Insurrection February 5, 1899

First Lieutenant Charles Evans Kilbourne Jr., a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on February 5, 1899 at Paco Bridge, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with U.S. Volunteer Signal Corps. Kilbourne was 26 years old.

The medal was presented on May 6, 1905, 6 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major General.

Kilbourne was born on December 23, 1872 in Fort Myer, Arlington County, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. Kilbourne died on November 12, 1963, at the age of 90. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His medal is held by Marshall Museum, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA.

Kilbourne is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 13 credited to Oregon.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Within a range of 250 yards of the enemy and in the face of a rapid fire climbed a telegraph pole at the east end of the bridge and in full view of the enemy coolly and carefully repaired a broken telegraph wire, thereby reestablishing telegraphic communication to the front.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Fort Myer — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Oregon →

Timeline

  1. December 23, 1872
    Born in Fort Myer, Arlington County, Virginia
  2. February 5, 1899
    Act of valor — Paco Bridge, Philippine Islands
    Age 26. U.S. Volunteer Signal Corps
  3. May 6, 1905
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 12, 1963
    Died
    Age 90.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Major General Charles Evans Kilbourne Jr. (December 23, 1872 – November 12, 1963) was the first American to earn the United States' three highest military decorations. As an officer in the United States Army he received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Philippine–American War. He served as a general officer during World War I, and received the Distinguished Service Cross and Army Distinguished Service Medal. After World War I, he served as the superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute, succeeding General John A. Lejeune, and had a post-military career as a distinguished writer.

From the Wikipedia article “Charles E. Kilbourne”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

More Philippine Insurrection recipients from Oregon

FH Frank Charles High Private · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 Marcus William Robertson Private · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899
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.