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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

Martin Schwenk

Sergeant Martin Schwenk, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions in July 1863 in Millerstown, Pennsylvania during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War July 1863Born in Germany

Sergeant Martin Schwenk was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in July 1863 in Millerstown, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Schwenk was about 24 years old.

The medal was presented on April 23, 1889, 26 years after the action.

Schwenk was born on April 28, 1839 in Baden, Germany — one of 130 recipients born in Germany. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Schwenk died on June 20, 1924 in District of Columbia, Washington, at the age of 85. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Records also list him as Martin, George.

Schwenk is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Bravery in an attempt to carry a communication through the enemy's lines; also rescued an officer from the hands of the enemy.

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

Battles and campaigns

1863 · Civil War

Battle of Gettysburg

Result: Union victory

21 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Kingdom of Württemberg — map
  • Died: Washington, D.C. — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

From the archives

Martin Schwenk was the alias of George Martin. His Medal of Honor was awarded under his alias because his service was completed as "Martin Schwenk."

Timeline

  1. April 28, 1839
    Born in Baden, Germany
  2. July 1863
    Act of valor — Millerstown, Pennsylvania
    Age about 24. Company B, 6th U.S. Cavalry
  3. April 23, 1889
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 20, 1924
    Died in District of Columbia, Washington
    Age 85.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Martin Schwenk (also known as George Martin, April 28, 1839 – June 20, 1924) was a German-American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. He received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. The medal was awarded for bravery during the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania on 3 July 1863, in the Battle of Fairfield. He was honored with the award on April 23, 1889. Schwenk was born in Baden in Germany. After emigrating to the United States, he entered service in Boston. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

From the Wikipedia article “Martin Schwenk”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

JD John Milton Deane Major · Army Civil War · 1865 AW Augustus Williams Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Benjamin H. Jellison Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 JB James Barnum Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 Carlos H. Rich First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 JH John H. Harbourne Private · Army Civil War · 1864
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.