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Corporal · U.S. Army

James Robert lee Gillenwater

Corporal James Robert lee Gillenwater, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on September 3, 1899 near Porac, Luzon, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection.

Philippine Insurrection September 3, 1899

Corporal James Robert lee Gillenwater was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 3, 1899 near Porac, Luzon, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with Company A, 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Gillenwater was 27 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 15, 1902, 2 years after the action.

Gillenwater was born on October 28, 1871 in Rye Cove, Scott County, Virginia. Gillenwater died on January 19, 1946 in Rogersville, Tennessee, at the age of 74. He is buried at Payne Cemetery in Rogersville, Tennessee.

Gillenwater is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 48 credited to Virginia.

Official Medal of Honor citation

While on a scout drove off a superior force of insurgents and with the assistance of one comrade brought from the field of action the bodies of two comrades, one killed and the other severely wounded.

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

Places

  • Born: Virginia — map
  • Buried: Highland Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Virginia →

Timeline

  1. October 28, 1871
    Born in Rye Cove, Scott County, Virginia
  2. September 3, 1899
    Act of valor — near Porac, Luzon, Philippine Islands
    Age 27. Company A, 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers
  3. March 15, 1902
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 19, 1946
    Died in Rogersville, Tennessee
    Age 74.
  5. Resting place
    Payne Cemetery
    Rogersville, Tennessee

Biography

James Robert Gillenwater (October 28, 1871 – January 19, 1946) was a Corporal with Company A, 36th Infantry, United States Volunteers when he received the Medal of Honor for actions near Porac, Luzon, Philippine Islands, September 3, 1899. Date of issue: March 1, 1902. He was born and entered service at Rye Cove, Virginia. He died January 19, 1946. He was first buried at Payne Cemetery and later moved to Highland Cemetery in Rogersville, Tennessee.

From the Wikipedia article “James R. Gillenwater”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 3, 1899

CL Cornelius J. Leahy Private · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 ✦
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.