The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest military recognition of valor and bravery that the United States government can award. The medal's history began in 1861 when Senator James W. Grimes of Iowa introduced a bill to congress to create a Medal of Honor for the Navy and the Marine Corps. Abraham Lincoln signed the bill on December 21 on the same year. The Army's medal was created only six months later in May of 1862.
Since then only 3,459 persons have been awarded the medal.
Four of those recipents are buried in Vancouver Barracks Cemetery.
For more information on the history of the medal, visit The Congressional Medal of Honor Society's website.
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the tour begins at the Vancouver Barracks Cemetery located on Fourth Plain adjacent to I-5 North.
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Vancouver Barracks Cemetery is the permanent resting place for four Medal of Honor recipents.
Born: January 12, 1865 or April 1, 1866 (disputed) in Brooklyn, New York
Died: August 8, 1905 in Vancouver, Washington
Rank: Musician
Organization: U.S. Army
Earned Medal: At Santiago, Cuba, 1 July 1898
Citation: "Gallantly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the lines and under heavy fire from the enemy."
William McCammon Back Home
Pfisterer left the plumbing trade in 1886 at age 21 to join the U.S. Army. Pfisterer's occupation was listed as a musician. He was first assigned to Fort D.A. Russell near Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was there that he married his wife Sarah in 1889. Pfisterer was later assigned to Fort Robinson, Nebraska where the troops tried to keep peace on the Red Cloud Sioux Reservation. Following Fort Robinson, he was assigned to Plattsburg Barracks in upstate New York.
Pfisterer was a bugler with the 21st Infantry in 1898 when the Spanish-American War began. He then was transferred with his regiment to Tampa, Florida and by June of 1898 he arrived in Cuba. Not used the tropical climate, many men in Pfisterer's unit became ill or suffered heat exhaustion as they attempted move toward Santiago, Cuba.
Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders and the Ninth U.S. Cavalry attacked the San Juan Heights on the right flank of the Spanish Army, while the 71st New York vounteers attempted to attack the front of the Spanish positions. The 21st Infantry and others tried to attack the left flank but had to move through a thick jungle a were repelled and forced to retreat.
Noticing two men wounded and helpless in an open position, Pfisterer was the first man of six to volunteer to rescue their fallen. All six returned alive and well carrying the wounded. Pfisterer's later helped capture San Juan Hill during the successful charge. Because of Pfisterer's bravery during these events, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1899.
Pfisterer transferred to the 7th Infantry and followed them to Vancouver Barracks in 1900. Deciding Vancouver should be his home, Pfisterer left the 7th for a time after they left the area. He then re-enlisted with the 17th Infantry after their transfer to Vancouver. Pfisterer then served for a short time overseas in the Philippines to fight the "insurrectionists" who wanted to be free of American rule. However, by April 1905 he was back in Vancouver and working on building a two-story home for his family at 412 East 13th Street. Pfistere was never able to finish the project because he died on June 30, 1905. According to the doctors of the time he died of acute myelitis and tuberculous. Captain Daniel Cornman, who recommended Pfisterer for the Medal of Honor, said Pfisterer's bravery at Santiago was just one of many similar acts.
William McCammon Back Home
Born: May 28, 1838 in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania or Ohio (disputed)
Died: March 27, 1903 in Vancouver, Washington
Rank: First Lieutenant
Organization: U.S. Army
Earned Medal: At Corinth, Miss., October 3, 1862
Date of Issue of Medal: July 9, 1896
Citation: "While on duty as provost marshal, voluntarily assumed command of his company, then under fire, and so continued in command until the repulse and retreat of the enemy on the following day, the loss to this company during the battle being very great."
James Madison Hill Back Home
William Wallace McCammon lived in Montgomery County, Missouri at the outbreak of the Civil War. At age 23, McCammon joined a pr-Union militia in state heavily divided overy slavery and secession from the United States. McCammon began as a private but quickly rose in the rank of lieutenant in an incredibly short amount of time. Mustered into the Union Army in July of 1861, he accepted a commision as a first lieutenant in the 22nd Missouri Volunteers.
As an officer, McCammon alternated between serving in the field with his company and as a staff officer. His first major battle was at Iuka, Mississippi. However, on October 3, 1862, McCammon's company encountered heavy fighting in Corinth, Mississippi, where his Missouri regiment was being surrounded and overwhelmed. As a povost marshal at the time, McCammon was far from the fighting, but when he learned his men were in need of a replacement officer to take command, he made his way on foot through the middle of the battle to take command. He was able to reorganize his men and pull them back to stronger position, where they were able to stay until nightfall. The Conferate Army planned to attack the next morning but a lack of coordination delayed them and McCammon and his men were able to rest. The attack eventually took place later in the day of October 4, however, McCammon and his men were able to lead a desperate bayonet charge to repulse an assaulting column. The victory bore a high cost with only nine members of Company E commanded by McCammon reporting for roll call the next day. McCammon later recieved the Medal of Honor for these actions and he was promoted to Captain shortly after the battle at Corinth.
Throughout the war, McCammon rose in rank and duties, but after the war he accepted an appointment as a second lieutenant in the 14th Infantry in August of 1867. He was eventually promoted to Captain in 1891. In 1884, he was transferred to the 14th Infantry Headquarters at Vancouver Barracks. The Spanish American War began in 1898 and McCammon and the 14th served with distinction in Philippines until 1899.
McCammon returned to Vancouver and retired as a major in 1902 after 41 years of military service. He died unexpectedly of Bright's disease in April 1903. He was survived by his wife, one daughter, and five sons. The Columbian wrote of his death, stating "Major McCammon was universally esteemed in the Army and social circles and his long service in the Army makes his record an exceedingly good one."
James Madison Hill Back Home
Born: April 25, 1845 in Kentucky
Died: September 17, 1919 in Vancouver, Washington
Rank: First Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Earned Medal: At Turret Mountain, Ariz., 25 March 1873
Citation: "Gallantry in action."
Moses Williams Back Home
James Hill ran away from home to join the Union Army during the Civil War in late 1861. He lied about his age in order to enlist in the 2nd Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. In 1863, he fought in the Battle of Chickamauga and recieved a serious wound. Private Hill then spent over a year in an Army Hospital, but was able to return to active duty in early 1865. However, he was mustered out of the Army only a month later.
Hill rejoined the Army in 1867 and was assigned to Company A of the 5th Cavalry Regiment. The 5th Cavalry was a group used by General George Crook to hunt down renegade Apaches in the Arizona Territory and much of their duties consisted of constant hard riding and fighting. Hill's medical records show that he suffered from permanent saddle sores due his time with the 5th.
On March 23, 1873, Company A climbed Turret Mountain and stormed an Apache stronghold. Records of the fight are in short supply, but it was for his gallantry in action at Turret Mountain that Hill earned his Medal of Honor.
Hill later became a Commissary Sergeant in both San Francisco and Alcatraz. He would even later serve at Fort Spokane and Vancouver Barracks, eventually retiring in 1899 to live in Vancouver. His home stood at the corner of what is now 13th and C street in downtown Vancouver.
Moses Williams Back Home
Born: around October 10, 1845 in East Carroll Parish, Louisiana
Died: August 23, 1899 in Vancouver, Washington
Rank: First Sergeant
Organization: 9th U.S. Cavalry (all black unit) - U.S. Army
Earned Medal: At foothills of the Cuchillo Negro Mountains, N. Mex., 16 August 1881
Citation: "Rallied a detachment, skillfully conducted a running flght of 3 or 4 hours, and by his coolness, bravery, and unflinching devotion to duty in standing by his commanding officer in an exposed position under a heavy fire from a large party of Indians saved the lives of at least 3 of his comrades."
MOH Monument Back Home
Having been born prior to the Civil War, Moses Williams was most likely born a slave. However, very little is known about his life prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army at age 21. His first enlistment noted his occupation as a farmer. He was assigned the 9th Regiment of the U.S. Cavalry. Since black soldiers were not allowed to fight with white troops the 9th Cavalry was an all-black unit.
Like many black soldiers at the time, Williams was not able to read or write upon his enlistment into the Army. However, by his first re-enlistment he was able to do both and was promoted to First Sergeant five years after his initial enlistment. In 1881, Williams was stationed at Fort Reno, Indian Territory. It was August of that year when Williams and his company were hunting Apaches under the leadership of a chief named Nana. The troops had found a family murdered on their ranch and pursued them to the foothills of Cuchillo Negro Mountains of New Mexico.
The Apache's made a stand and attempted to ambush the troops and were partially successful. Lieutenant George Burnett stated that Private Augustus Walley attempted to save several wounded men left in the open while Williams and himself exposed themselves to the fire of 25 to 30 Apaches enabling Walley to save the men. Burnett later recommeneded in letters that Walley and Williams recieve the Medal of Honor.
When Walley recieved a medal for the incident in 1896, Williams wrote a letter to the President of the United States asking for one too. Burnett's letter made it happen and Burnett himself recieved one as well.
Williams' enlistment records state that he was married between 1876 and 1881, but his wife's identity is a mystery. By 1896 his records list him as single. In 1886, Williams became an Ordanance Sergeant at Fort Buford, North Dakota. In 1895, Williams served at Fort Stevens, Oregon. It was at Fort Stevens that Williams' health began to fail. Williams retired in 1899 and declared Vancouver his "home" in a letter despite having never been stationed there. While in Vanocuver he lived in the "Kanaka Village," where Hawaiians, Chinese, and Black were segregated from the whites. On August 23, 1899, Williams died of unknown causes. The commander of the barracks wrote that Williams "died alone and without friends." However, this may be untrue due to the fact that Williams claimed Vancouver was his "home," and his house was close to many oppertunities for socialization. Racism may have played a role in the determination that he died without friends.
In addition to his bravery, Williams may also have been one of the first black Ordanance Sergreants, quite an accomplishment for a man most likely born a slave.
In 1991, the Congressional Medal of Honor society held its annual convention in Vancouver. During the convention, then Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff General Colin Powell dedicated a monument to the four men buried in Vancouver Barracks Cemetery. The monument is located in Officers Row near the O.O. Howard house and the intersection of Fort Vancouver Way and Evergreen Blvd.
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