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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

George Crawford Platt

Private George Crawford Platt, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 3, 1863 in Fairfield, Pennsylvania during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 3, 1863Born in Ireland

Private George Crawford Platt, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 3, 1863 in Fairfield, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Troop H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Platt was 21 years old.

30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 12, 1895, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

Platt was born on February 17, 1842 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Platt died on June 20, 1912, at the age of 70. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania.

Platt is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Seized the regimental flag upon the death of the standard bearer in a hand-to-hand fight and prevented it from falling into the hands of the enemy.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Derry — map
  • Died: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Holy Cross Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. February 17, 1842
    Born in Ireland
  2. July 3, 1863
    Act of valor — Fairfield, Pennsylvania
    Age 21. Troop H, 6th U.S. Cavalry
  3. July 12, 1895
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 20, 1912
    Died
    Age 70.
  5. Resting place
    Holy Cross Cemetery
    Yeadon, Pennsylvania

Biography

George Crawford Platt (February 17, 1842 – June 20, 1912) was an Irish soldier who served with the federal army of the United States (also known as the Union Army) during the American Civil War. A private with Troop H of the 6th U.S. Cavalry, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, America's highest award for valor in combat, for protecting the American flag in hand-to-hand combat near Fairfield, Pennsylvania, during the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863.

From the Wikipedia article “George Crawford Platt”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

Also honored for actions on July 3, 1863

EB Elijah William Bacon Private · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ George Greenville Benedict Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 MB Morris Brown Jr. Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ HC Hugh Carey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ JC John E. Clopp Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Alonzo H. Cushing First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ JD Joseph H. Decastro Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 GD George H. Dore Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Benjamin Frank Falls Color Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 ✦ CF Christopher Flynn Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Frederick W. Fuger Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 William B. Hincks Sergeant Major · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 31 recipients for July 3, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

NE Nathan Huntley Edgerton First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1864 JD John P. Donaldson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Lewis Francis Brest Private · Army Civil War · 1865 GM George Washington McWilliams Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JS John Hamilton reid Storey Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 CO Charles Oliver Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865
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.