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★Victoria Cross

A comprehensive archive of decorated U.S. military heroes, objectively ranked by the Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25). Honoring valor through history.

USM-25.2Scoring Standard

Scored under the Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25)

William Pittenger — Victoria Cross

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Heroic Score1001057th out of 4480

Number of Medals2

Total Heroic & Non-Heroic Score1022193 of 4480

U.S. Army#443of 2016

Infantry#417of 1502

American Civil War#10of 1091

• First Battle of Bull Run#1of 2

• Great Locomotive Chase#1of 2

William Pittenger

Sergeant, U.S. Army

American Civil War• First Battle of Bull Run• Great Locomotive Chase

Awards & Decorations

Medal of Honor
Civil War Campaign Medal

Ribbon Rack

Biography

William Pittenger was an American soldier during the American Civil War. Serving as a Sergeant in the Union Army, he participated in the daring military raid known as the Great Locomotive Chase in 1862.

Pittenger was captured by Confederate forces following the raid and spent over a year as a prisoner of war before being exchanged in March 1863. For his extreme gallantry during the mission, he became one of the very first recipients of the United States military's highest decoration.

Following his military service, Pittenger wrote extensively about his wartime experiences, publishing several famous accounts of the Andrews Raid. He later entered the ministry, serving as a prominent clergyman until his death.

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Score Breakdown

Medal of Honor(base 100)

+100

Heroic Score100 pts