George Shiels

George Franklin Shiels (April 13, 1863 – October 26, 1943) was a surgeon in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Philippine–American War.

Early life

George Franklin Shiels was born on April 13, 1863, in San Francisco, California, to William Shiels and Sarah Esdale Lynham. Little is known of his childhood. He graduated from the Military College in Ossening, New York and then attended the University of Edinburg where he earned a Bachelor of Medicine and a Master of Surgery. His thesis at the University of Edinburg was "On the Effects of Tobacco on Those Using it as a Luxury." He joined the US Army Medical Volunteer Corps as a surgeon on the 8 July 1898, and he deployed to the Philippines with the Volunteer Medical Corps, serving until 1899. In 1902 he married Emily Montague Bibby Mead in Manhattan, NY.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers.

Place and date: At Tuliahan River, Philippine Islands, March 25, 1899.

Entered service at: California.

Birth: California.

Date of issue: November 22, 1906.

Citation:

Voluntarily exposed himself to the fire of the enemy and went with 4 men to the relief of 2 native Filipinos Iying wounded about 150 yards in front of the lines and personally carried one of them to a place of safety.

Silver Star

Rank and Organization: Surgeon, 369th Infantry Regiment

Place and Date: Fontaine, France, 29 September 1918

Citation:

By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Major G. Franklin Shiels, Medical Department, United States Army, is cited for gallantry in action and is entitled to wear a silver star on the Victory Medal ribbon as prescribed by Paragraph 1, G.O. 75, c. s., these headquarters. For gallantry in action at Fontaine, France, 29 September 1918, in caring for the wounded under heavy shell fire.