Hugh Jocelyn McGrath – Medal of Honor, Philippine Insurrection (1899)

Captain Hugh Jocelyn McGrath, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on July 26, 1899 in Calamba, Luzon, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with 4th U.S. Cavalry. McGrath was 43 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 29, 1902, 2 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major.

McGrath was born on April 8, 1856 in Fond Du Lac, Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin. His Medal of Honor is credited to Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. McGrath died on November 7, 1899 in Philippine Islands, at the age of 43. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

McGrath is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 50 credited to Wisconsin.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Swam the San Juan River in the face of the enemy's fire and drove him from his entrenchments.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Philippine–American War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Education: United States Army Command and General Staff College, University of Wisconsin Law School, United States Military Academy, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Source: Wikidata.

Places

Born: Fond du Lac — map
Died: Manila — map
Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Wisconsin →

Timeline

April 8, 1856
Born in Fond Du Lac, Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin
July 26, 1899
Act of valor — Calamba, Luzon, Philippine Islands
Age 43. 4th U.S. Cavalry
November 7, 1899
Died in Philippine Islands
Age 43.
April 29, 1902
Medal of Honor presented posthumously
Resting place
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Hugh Jocelyn McGrath (April 8, 1856 – November 7, 1899) was a captain in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Philippine–American War. McGrath was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on April 8, 1856. He lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. McGrath graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1873 and then taught school for a while before enrolling in the scientific course at the University of Wisconsin. After completing the first two years of the program, he left to attend the United States Military Academy, graduating in June 1880. McGrath was commissioned as a cavalry officer and assigned to frontier duty with the 4th Cavalry Regiment.

From the Wikipedia article “Hugh J. McGrath”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on July 26, 1899

Matthew Arlington Batson First Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899

Same unit

RC Robert Goldthwaite Carter Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1871 JH Joseph S. Hedges First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 LW Lewis Warrington First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 WW Wilber Elliott Wilder First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882

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.