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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Color Sergeant · U.S. Army

George McKee

Color Sergeant George McKee, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 2, 1865Born in Ireland

Color Sergeant George McKee was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with CompanyD, 89th New York Infantry. McKee was about 20 years old.

65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 12, 1865.

McKee was born in 1845 in County Tyrone, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Rochester, Monroe County, New York. McKee died on July 8, 1892 in Sawtelle, California, at the age of about 47. He is buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

McKee is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantry as color bearer in the assault on Fort Gregg.

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

Timeline

  1. 1845
    Born in County Tyrone, Ireland
  2. April 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age about 20. CompanyD, 89th New York Infantry
  3. May 12, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. July 8, 1892
    Died in Sawtelle, California
    Age about 47.
  5. Resting place
    Los Angeles National Cemetery
    Los Angeles, California

Also honored for actions on April 2, 1865

AA Abner Peeler Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 AA Andrew O. Apple Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William J. Babcock Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JB James Albert Barber Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Eugene Beauharnais Beaumont Major and Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Robert douglas Blackwood Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John W. Boutwell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John E. Buffington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CC Carlton N. Camp Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Corcoran Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Stephen Potter Corliss First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC Josiah M. Curtis Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 66 recipients for April 2, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

JB John Breen Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1862 IC Ivers S. Calkin First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Robert Henry King Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 William Laing Heermance Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 CB Chester Bennett Bowen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 JW John Woon Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.