| Matthew Arlington Batson | |
|---|---|
 Matthew A. Batson | |
| Born | April 24, 1866 |
| Died | January 13, 1917 (aged 50) |
| Place of birth | Anna Illinois |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1888 - 1902 |
| Rank |
Captain Brevet Major |
| Unit |
2nd Cavalry Regiment 4th Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Philippine-American War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Matthew Arlington Batson (24 April 1866 – 13 January 1917) was a United States Army Officer who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Philippine-American War. 1st Lieutenant Batson was awarded the medal for swimming the San Juan River under enemy fire. He later obtained the rank of Captain. He was awarded his medal alongside Captain Hugh J. McGrath who performed the same feat.
Military record[]
Batson joined the 2nd United States Cavalry on 9 April 1888 and was commissioned as an officer in August 1891. He retired as a Brevet Major (United States) of volunteers and a Regular Army Captain in February 1902. He died on 13 January 1917 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery Section 2, Lot 3604-WS.
Medal of Honor citation[]
Batson's Medal of Honor citation reads:
Swam the San Juan River in the face of the enemy's fire and drove him from his entrenchments.
See also[]
References[]
- "Matthew Arlington Batson, Captain, United States Army". Arlington National Cemetery. http://arlingtoncemetery.net/mabatson.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
- "Matthew Arlington Batson". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6127731. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
The original article can be found at Matthew Arlington Batson and the edit history here.