Cover Story: After 162 Years, Two Soldiers Finally Get Medal of Honor Recognition

Two Civil War veterans were posthumously awarded The Medal of Honor on July 3, 2024, just days before the 162nd anniversary of it being signed into law by President Lincoln. This recognition is the nation's highest award for military valor in action. To date, the Medal of Honor has been awarded to 3,519 service members who went above and beyond the call of duty. 

Every year on March 25, the nation observes National Medal of Honor Day, a solemn recognition of those soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines whose military service was distinguished through extraordinary acts of heroism and sacrifice. The date in March stems from the American Civil War, when the first such medals were awarded.

President Lincoln signed The Medal of Honor into law July 12, 1862, initially awarding 6 of the 24 members of “Andrews' Raiders” for their acts of valor during The Great Locomotive Chase. James J. Andrews, a Kentucky-born civilian spy, led 22 soldiers and 1 civilian on a secret expedition to separate the southern capital of Richmond, Virginia from Atlanta, severing supply lines for Confederate troops. They became known as “Andrews’ Raiders.” In the years that followed, 19 of the 22 men were awarded The Medal of Honor, which marked the first recipients of our nation’s highest military decoration.

This month, 162 years later, two additional members of Andrews' Raiders were recognized when President Biden posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Pvt. Philip G. Shadrach and Pvt. George D. Wilson. They were two men among the group that attempted a daring train hijacking behind Confederate lines in 1862, before the participants were caught and most of them executed. Historians attribute their lack of award to an oversight.

"Today, we right that wrong," Biden said at the White House in a July 3 ceremony where he told the two men's stories before giving the medals to two descendants. "Today, they finally receive the recognition they deserve."

The oldest living relative of each Soldier accepted the award on their behalf. 

“I am humbled to have the opportunity to come and receive the Medal of Honor that was awarded to our relative,” said Gerald Taylor, Shadrach’s great-great-nephew, in an Army news release.”

According to historical documents and the Army news release, Wilson addressed the Confederate crowd before being executed. He reportedly said that he felt no hostility toward them and did not regret dying for his country because he knew the people would soon see the Union flag flying once again. 

“When I read that, I had chills,” said Theresa Chandler, Wilson’s great-great-granddaughter, in the Army news release. “It brought everything home, and you get so much more respect and appreciation for what they did and what they were fighting for.”

Both families plan to donate the awards to museums for the public to enjoy.

Next year, a gathering of all living Medal of Honor recipients will take place at the birthplace of the honor in Tennessee. The program will feature a series of public and private events starting on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and will conclude with the highly-anticipated Patriot Award Gala on Saturday, October 4, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

“We look forward to bringing the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and all living Medal of Honor Recipients back to the place where it all began on April 12, 1862, with Andrews’ Raid and the Great Locomotive Chase,” said General BB Bell, U.S. Army (Retired) and chairman of the National Advisory Board for the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. “The acts of valor on that day and those that followed during the Chattanooga Campaign of the Civil War created an undeniable, historical connection between our City and the Medal of Honor that ultimately established Chattanooga as the Birthplace of the Medal of Honor.”