George W. Wallace

Driving off an ambush to aid a wounded officer

George Weed Wallace was born on May 25, 1872, at Fort Riley, Kansas. He served as a second lieutenant in the 9th U.S. Infantry during the Philippine conflict.

On March 4, 1900, at Tinuba on Luzon, Wallace, another officer and a Filipino companion came under ambush. The other officer was severely wounded. Wallace fired on the attackers and drove them away, then moved the injured man from the path. He returned to a town a mile away and summoned help from his command.

Wallace received the Medal of Honor on June 25, 1900, and later attained lieutenant colonel. He died on May 22, 1946, and is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery. His award commemorates a response that combined resistance to an ambush with the rescue of a wounded officer.

Medal of Honor Citation

With another officer and a native Filipino, was shot at from an ambush, the other officer falling severely wounded. Second Lt. Wallace fired in the direction of the enemy, put them to rout, removed the wounded officer from the path, returned to the town, a mile distant, and summoned assistance from his command.