Charles G. Bickham
Encyclopedia
Charles Goodwin Bickham (August 12, 1867, Dayton, Ohio
– December 14, 1944, Dayton) was a United States Army
first lieutenant received the Medal of Honor
for “distinguished gallantry” on May 2, 1902, in the Battle of Bayang, during the Philippine-American War
. Lieutenant Bickham carried a wounded soldier across a "fire swept field".
His medal was awarded by Theodore Roosevelt
on April 28, 1904.
He served as a Colonel on the staff of Ohio Governor William McKinley
. During the Spanish-American War
, he served as a Private in Company G, Third Regiment, Ohio National Guard, and later a Captain in the Ninth Regiment (Immunes), U.S. Volunteer Infantry. He served as a Captain during the Philippine-American War
in the Twenty-eighth Regiment, U.S. Volunteer Infantry, under Col. William E. Birkhimer
. After receiving his commission in the regular army as a Lieutenant, he served again in the Philippines with the Twenty-seventh U.S. Infantry under then-Captain John J. Pershing
.
After twice failing the professional examination required for promotion to captain, in 1909 and 1910, he was honorably discharged from the army in June 1910. He never married.
He died December 14, 1944 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum Dayton, Ohio
. His grave can be found in section 101, lot 1420.
Place and date: At Bayong
, near Lake Lanao
, Mindanao
, Philippine Islands, May 2, 1902.
Entered service at: Dayton, Ohio
. Birth: Dayton, Ohio.
Date of issue: April 28, 1904.
Citation:
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
– December 14, 1944, Dayton) was a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
first lieutenant received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for “distinguished gallantry” on May 2, 1902, in the Battle of Bayang, during the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
. Lieutenant Bickham carried a wounded soldier across a "fire swept field".
His medal was awarded by Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
on April 28, 1904.
He served as a Colonel on the staff of Ohio Governor William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
. During the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, he served as a Private in Company G, Third Regiment, Ohio National Guard, and later a Captain in the Ninth Regiment (Immunes), U.S. Volunteer Infantry. He served as a Captain during the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
in the Twenty-eighth Regiment, U.S. Volunteer Infantry, under Col. William E. Birkhimer
William E. Birkhimer
William Edward Birkhimer was an United States Army Brigadier General and lawyer received the Medal of Honor while a Captain during the Philippine-American War...
. After receiving his commission in the regular army as a Lieutenant, he served again in the Philippines with the Twenty-seventh U.S. Infantry under then-Captain John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
.
After twice failing the professional examination required for promotion to captain, in 1909 and 1910, he was honorably discharged from the army in June 1910. He never married.
He died December 14, 1944 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. His grave can be found in section 101, lot 1420.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 27th U.S. Infantry.Place and date: At Bayong
Bayang, Lanao del Sur
Bayang is a 5th class municipality in the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 21,020 people in 2,789 households.-Barangays:Bayang is politically subdivided into 48 barangays.* Bagoaingud...
, near Lake Lanao
Lake Lanao
Lake Lanao is a large lake in the Philippines, located in Lanao del Sur province in the country's southern island of Mindanao. With a surface area of 340 km²...
, Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, Philippine Islands, May 2, 1902.
Entered service at: Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. Birth: Dayton, Ohio.
Date of issue: April 28, 1904.
Citation:
Crossed a fire-swept field, in close range of the enemy, and brought a wounded soldier to a place of shelter.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Philippine–American War Medal of Honor recipients
Primary sources
- MS-017 Bickham Collection. Dayton Metro Library, Dayton, Ohio.