William Graul

William Graul (July 27, 1846 – September 2, 1909) was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.[1]

William Graul
BornReading, Pennsylvania
Died27 July 1846
Buried
Reading, Pennsylvania
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
RankCorporal
Unit Company I, 188th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Battle of Chaffin's Farm
Awards Medal of Honor

Graul was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he later entered service. Aged 18, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism shown at Fort Harrison during the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, for placing the American flag on the Confederate Army fortifications, while serving as a corporal with Company I, 188th Pennsylvania Infantry. The flag of Graul's company, the 188th Pennsylvania Infantry, was carried by Cecil Clay, for which he also won the Medal of Honor.[2]

His Medal of Honor was issued on April 6, 1865.[3]

Graul later had five children after his military service.[2]

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 Corporal William L. Graul, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 29 September 1864, while serving with Company I, 188th Pennsylvania Infantry, in action at Fort Harrison, Virginia. Corporal Graul was first to plant the colors of his State on the fortifications.[4]

References
  1. "Medal of Honor Recipients". United States Army Center of Military History. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  2. Douglas Crenshaw (5 November 2013). Fort Harrison and the Battle of Chaffin's Farm: To Surprise and Capture Richmond. The History Press. pp. 49–. ISBN 978-1-62584-771-3.
  3. "GRAUL, WILLIAM". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  4. "Valor awards for William Graul". Military Times, Hall of Valor. Retrieved 10 December 2014.

"William Graul". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 11 September 2014.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.


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