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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

William C. May

Private William C. May, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 16, 1864 in Nashville, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War December 16, 1864

Private William C. May was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 16, 1864 in Nashville, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 32d Iowa Infantry. May was 38 years old.

15 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on February 24, 1865.

May was born on January 16, 1826 in Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Maysville, Franklin County, Iowa. May died on October 21, 1894 in Howard Lake, Minnesota, at the age of 68. He is buried at Winsted Public Cemetery in Winsted, Minnesota.

May is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 55 credited to Iowa.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Ran ahead of his regiment over the enemy's works and captured from its bearer the flag of Bonanchad's Confederate battery (C.S.A.).

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

Timeline

  1. January 16, 1826
    Born in Pennsylvania
  2. December 16, 1864
    Act of valor — Nashville, Tennessee
    Age 38. Company H, 32d Iowa Infantry
  3. February 24, 1865
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 21, 1894
    Died in Howard Lake, Minnesota
    Age 68.
  5. Resting place
    Winsted Public Cemetery
    Winsted, Minnesota

Also honored for actions on December 16, 1864

Marion T. Anderson Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 Franklin Carr Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 OC Oliver Colwell First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 WG William Garrett Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Thomas Parke Gere First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1864 DH Daniel Irving Holcomb Private · Army Civil War · 1864 LK Luther Kaltenbach Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles H. McCleary First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 WM Wilbur F. Moore Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JP James W. Parks Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 WS William Thomas Simmons First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 AS Andrew Jackson Sloan Private · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 16 recipients for December 16, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Iowa

Edward James Bebb Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HS Henry I. Smith First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Voltare Paine Twombly Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 James Dunlavy Private · Army Civil War · 1864 NF Nicholas Fanning Private · Army Civil War · 1865 PH Pitt B. Herington Private · Army Civil War · 1864
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.