Private William Palmer MacLay, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on May 6, 1900 in Hilongas, Leyte, Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection. At the time he was serving with Company A, 43d Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. MacLay was about 23 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 11, 1902. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
MacLay was born in 1877 in Spruce Creek, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania. MacLay died on July 31, 1943, at the age of about 66. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
MacLay is one of 82 Medal of Honor recipients from the Philippine Insurrection and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Charged an occupied bastion, saving the life of an officer in a hand-to- hand combat and destroying the enemy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Philippine–American War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- 1877Born in Spruce Creek, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
- May 6, 1900Act of valor — Hilongas, Leyte, Philippine IslandsAge about 23. Company A, 43d Infantry, U.S. Volunteers
- March 11, 1902Medal of Honor presented
- July 31, 1943DiedAge about 66.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
William Palmer Maclay (1877–July 31, 1943) was a United States Army private received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Philippine–American War He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. His grave can be found in section 7, Lot 9008-F.
From the Wikipedia article “William P. Maclay (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →