George Kretsinger

George Kretsinger (June 20, 1844 - April 20, 1906) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1]

George Kretsinger
Born(1844-06-20)June 20, 1844
Fairfield, New York
DiedApril 20, 1906(1906-04-20) (aged 61)
Buried
Rosehill Cemetery, Cook County, Illinois
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
RankPrivate
Unit Chicago Mercantile Battery, Illinois Light Artillery
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Battle of Vicksburg
Awards Medal of Honor

Kretsinger was born in Fairfield, New York, and entered service in Chicago, Illinois. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism shown in Henrico County, Virginia, for bravery in action during the Battle of Vicksburg, while serving as a Private with the Chicago Mercantile Battery in the Illinois Light Artillery on May 22, 1863. His Medal of Honor was issued on July 20, 1897.[2]

Kretsinger died on April 20, 1906 and was buried at Rosehill Cemetery, in Cook County, Illinois.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private George Kretsinger, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 22 May 1863, while serving with Chicago Mercantile Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Private Kretsinger carried, with others, by hand, a cannon up to and fired it through an embrasure of the enemy's works.[3]

References
  1. "Medal of Honor Recipients". United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  2. "KRETSINGER, GEORGE". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  3. "Valor awards for George Kretsinger". Military Times, Hall of Valor. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.


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