William E. Birkhimer

William Edward Birkhimer
Born	(1848-03-01)March 1, 1848 Somerset, Ohio
Died	Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1864 - 1906
Rank	Brigadier General
Unit	3rd U.S. Artillery
Battles/wars	American Civil War Moro Rebellion, Philippine American War
Awards	Medal of Honor
Relations	Williston B. Palmer, Charles D. Palmer (grandsons)

William Edward Birkhimer (March 1, 1848 – June 10, 1914) was an United States Army Brigadier General and lawyer received the Medal of Honor while a Captain during the Philippine-American War. His career was long and varied, as he started as an Iowa private in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Career Dates

• March 21, 1864, Private, 4th Iowa Cavalry
• June 15, 1870 Commissioned second lieutenant from United States Military Academy, US Artillery Corps
• 1873 Honor Graduate, Artillery School
• 1874-1876 Assistant Professor of Natural & Experimental Philosophy
• April 10, 1879 promoted to First Lieutenant
• 1886-1890 Judge Advocate, Department of the Columbia
• February 10, 1898 promoted to Captain
• 1889 L.L.D. University of Oregon
• 1899 Associate Justice Supreme Court of the Philippines (audencial) Manila, Philippines
• 1899, Colonel of volunteers, 28th Volunteer Infantry
• August 1, 1901 promoted to Major
• May 20, 1905 promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
• February 15, 1906 promoted to Brigadier General
• February 16, 1906 retired at own request

Birkhimer is the grandfather of Williston Birkhimer Palmer and Charles Day Palmer, brothers who became four-star generals.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization: Captain, 3d U.S. Artillery. Place and Date: At San Miguel de Mayumo, Luzon, Philippine Islands, May 13, 1899. Entered Service At: Iowa. Birth: Somerset, Ohio. Date of Issue: July 15, 1902.

Citation:

With 12 men charged and routed 300 of the enemy.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Philippine–American War Medal of Honor recipients