Hospital Apprentice Fred Henry McGuire, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on September 24, 1911 near the village of Mundang, Basilan Island, Philippine Islands during the 1911 actions against outlaws in the Philippines. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Pampanga. McGuire was 20 years old.
5 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 1912. He later rose to the rank of Chief Pharmacist.
McGuire was born on November 7, 1890 in Gordonville, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. McGuire died on February 4, 1958 in Mountain Grove, Missouri, at the age of 67. He is buried at Springfield National Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri.
McGuire is one of 6 Medal of Honor recipients from the 1911 actions against outlaws in the Philippines and one of 78 credited to Missouri.
Official Medal of Honor citation
While attached to the U.S.S. Pampang, McGuire was one of a shore party moving in to capture Mundang, on the island of Basilan, P.I., 24 September 1911. Ordered to take station within 100 yards of a group of nipa huts close to the trail, McGuire advanced and stood guard as the leader and his scout party first searched the surrounding deep grasses, then moved into the open area before the huts. Instantly enemy Moros opened point-blank fire on the exposed men, and approximately 20 Moros charged the small group from inside the huts and from other concealed positions. McGuire, responding to the calls for help, was one of the first on the scene. After emptying his rifle into the attackers, he closed in with rifle, using it as a club to wage fierce battle until his comrades arrived on the field, when he rallied to the aid of his dying leader and other wounded. Although himself wounded, McGuire ministered tirelessly and efficiently to those who had been struck down, thereby saving the lives of two who otherwise might have succumbed to enemy-inflicted wounds.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Although himself wounded, McGuire ministered tirelessly and efficiently to those who had been struck down, thereby saving the lives of two who otherwise might have succumbed to enemy-inflicted wounds.
- Age at death: 67
- Resting place: Springfield National Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Philippine–American War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Missouri →
Timeline
- November 7, 1890Born in Gordonville, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
- September 24, 1911Act of valor — near the village of Mundang, Basilan Island, Philippine IslandsAge 20. U.S.S. Pampanga
- January 1912Medal of Honor presented
- February 4, 1958Died in Mountain Grove, MissouriAge 67.
- Resting placeSpringfield National CemeterySpringfield, Missouri
Biography
Fred Henry McGuire (November 7, 1890 – February 4, 1958) was a Chief Pharmacist Mate in the United States Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the Philippine–American War.
From the Wikipedia article “Fred Henry McGuire”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →