William Rufus Shafter

William Rufus Shafter won the Medal of Honor at Fair Oaks after leading a charge, being wounded, and concealing the extent of his injuries so he could remain with his men.

Born on 16 October 1835 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Shafter entered Union service during the Civil War and was a first lieutenant in Company I, 7th Michigan Infantry at Fair Oaks, Virginia, on 31 May 1862.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): At Fair Oaks on 31 May 1862, Shafter led a charge, was wounded, and concealed his wounds so that he could remain in command until the fighting ended.

Shafter remained in the Regular Army after the Civil War and later served in the Indian campaigns. During the Spanish-American War he commanded the Fifth Army Corps in Cuba. A statement from his headquarters at Santiago de Cuba dated 30 July 1898 places him there after the Army of Cuban Occupation qualifying period began on 18 July 1898. His Medal of Honor was presented on 12 June 1895. Shafter died on 12 November 1906 near Bakersfield, California, and was buried in San Francisco National Cemetery.

His verified rack consists of the Medal of Honor, Army Civil War Campaign Medal, Indian Campaign Medal, Spanish Campaign Medal, and Army of Cuban Occupation Medal. No ribbon device is supported on these medals in the reviewed record.