William Shemin

William Shemin (October 14, 1896 – August 15, 1973) was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War I. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in action in Vesle River, near Bazoches, France. On June 2, 2015, Elsie Shemin-Roth accepted the nation's highest military award for valor on behalf of her father from President Barack Obama at the White House. Shemin was assigned to Company G, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Force.

Biography
William Shemin was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. During his teenage years, he played semi-pro baseball. He graduated from the New York State Ranger School in 1914, and went on to work as a forester in Bayonne. Shemin enlisted in the Army, October 2, 1917. Upon completion of basic training at Camp Greene, North Carolina, he was assigned as a rifleman to Company G, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in France

Shemin participated in the Aisne-Marne Offensive, where he took shrapnel and was wounded by a machine gun bullet that pierced his helmet and was lodged behind his left ear. Following his injuries, Shemin was hospitalized for three months and later received light duty as part of the Army occupation in Germany and Belgium until he completed his tour. Shemin received the Purple Heart for his injuries during combat. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for battlefield valor in December 19, 1919.

While serving as a rifleman from August 7-9, 1918, Shemin left the cover of his platoon's trench and crossed open space, repeatedly exposing himself to heavy machine gun and rifle fire to rescue the wounded. After officers and senior non-commissioned officers had become casualties, Shemin took command of the platoon and displayed great initiative under fire, until he was wounded on August 9.

Shemin was honorably discharged in August 1919, and went on to get a degree from the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University. After graduation, he started a greenhouse and landscaping business in Bronx, New York, where he raised three children. Shemin died in 1973.

"" With the most utter disregard for his own safety, (Shemin) sprang from his position in his platoon trench, dashed out across the open in full sight of the Germans, who opened and maintained a furious burst of machine gun and rifle fire.""

- Capt. Rupert Purdon, one of Shemin's superiors.

Medal of Honor Citation
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