Captain William Edward Birkhimer, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 13, 1899 in San Miguel de Mayumo, Luzon, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with 3d U.S. Artillery. Birkhimer was 51 years old.
7 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 15, 1902, 3 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General U.S.A. Ret..
Birkhimer was born on March 1, 1848 in Somerset, Perry County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Iowa. Birkhimer died on June 10, 1914 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of 66. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Birkhimer is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 55 credited to Iowa.
Official Medal of Honor citation
With 12 men charged and routed 300 of the enemy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Occupations: lawyer
- Education: University of Oregon, United States Military Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Timeline
- March 1, 1848Born in Somerset, Perry County, Ohio
- May 13, 1899Act of valor — San Miguel de Mayumo, Luzon, Philippine IslandsAge 51. 3d U.S. Artillery
- July 15, 1902Medal of Honor presented
- June 10, 1914Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge 66.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
William Edward Birkhimer (March 1, 1848 – June 10, 1914) was a United States Army brigadier general and lawyer received the Medal of Honor while a captain during the Philippine–American War. His career was long and varied, as he started as an Iowa private in the Union Army during the Civil War. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
From the Wikipedia article “William E. Birkhimer”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
