Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant William Shemin was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions between August 7 and 9, 1918 in Bazoches, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division Expeditionary Forces. Shemin was 21 years old.
The medal was presented on June 2, 2015, 96 years after the action. White House by President Barack Obama to his daughter Elsie Shemin-Roth.
Shemin was born on October 14, 1896 in Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey. His Medal of Honor is credited to Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York. Shemin died on August 15, 1973 in Syracuse, New York, at the age of 76. He is buried at Baron Hirsch Cemetery in Staten Island, New York.
Shemin is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Sergeant William Shemin distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of heroism at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with G Company, 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy on the Vesle River, near Bazoches, France from August 7 to August 9, 1918. Sergeant Shemin, upon three different occasions, left cover and crossed an open space of 150 yards, repeatedly exposing himself to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, to rescue wounded. After officers and senior noncommissioned officers had become casualties, Sergeant Shemin took command of the platoon and displayed great initiative under fire until wounded on August 9. Sergeant Shemin's extraordinary heroism and selflessness, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, with G Company, 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, and the United States Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, William Shemin received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Bayonne High School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- October 14, 1896Born in Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey
- August 7 - 9, 1918Act of valor — Bazoches, FranceAge 21. Company G, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division Expeditionary Forces
- August 15, 1973Died in Syracuse, New YorkAge 76.
- June 2, 2015Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyWhite House by President Barack Obama to his daughter Elsie Shemin-Roth.
- Resting placeBaron Hirsch CemeteryStaten Island, New York
Biography
William Shemin (October 14, 1896 – August 15, 1973) was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War I. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in action at Vesle River, near Bazoches, France. On June 2, 2015, William Shemin's daughters Elsie Shemin-Roth and Ina Bass accepted the nation's highest military award for valor on behalf of their father from President Barack Obama at the White House. Shemin was assigned to Company G, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces. The reason of the belated award is that in 2001, the U.S.
From the Wikipedia article “William Shemin”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
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