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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

George Clymer Shaw

First Lieutenant George Clymer Shaw, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 4, 1903 at Fort Pitacus, Lake Lanao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection.

Philippine Insurrection May 4, 1903

First Lieutenant George Clymer Shaw was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 4, 1903 at Fort Pitacus, Lake Lanao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with Company C, 27th U.S. Infantry. Shaw was 37 years old.

The medal was presented on June 9, 1904. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

Shaw was born on March 6, 1866 in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. His Medal of Honor is credited to Washington, District of Columbia. Shaw died on February 10, 1960, at the age of 93. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Shaw is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 34 credited to District of Columbia.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For distinguished gallantry in leading the assault and, under a heavy fire from the enemy, maintaining alone his position on the parapet after the first three men who followed him there had been killed or wounded, until a foothold was gained by others and the capture of the place assured.

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

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, George Clymer Shaw received:

Silver Star

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I, Philippine–American War.

Places

  • Born: Pontiac — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in District of Columbia →

Timeline

  1. March 6, 1866
    Born in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan
  2. May 4, 1903
    Act of valor — Fort Pitacus, Lake Lanao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands
    Age 37. Company C, 27th U.S. Infantry
  3. June 9, 1904
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. February 10, 1960
    Died
    Age 93.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

George Clymer Shaw (March 6, 1866 – February 10, 1960) was a brigadier general in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Philippine–American War. Shaw joined the Army from Washington, D.C., in May 1898, and retired in March 1930.

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

More Philippine Insurrection recipients from District of Columbia

Bernard Albert Byrne Captain · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 DP David Dixon Porter Captain · Marine Corps Philippine Insurrection · 1901
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.