William McKinley’s Medal of Honor Valor at Resaca, 1864

Jan 07 , 2026

William McKinley’s Medal of Honor Valor at Resaca, 1864

In the choking smoke of battle, amidst screams and the stench of gunpowder, William McKinley stood unyielding. A crimson flag ripped by cannon fire, yet still held aloft by his trembling hands. Around him, men fell like rag dolls, but he bore the weight of the fight alone. This was no glory—but survival etched in steel and faith.

From Ohio Fields to War-Torn Fronts

Born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1832, William McKinley was raised among plains and hard labor. His youth was marked by steady hands and a firm heart, shaped by the austere rhythms of frontier life. Values drilled into him: duty, sacrifice, and a reverent fear of God.

He drew strength from scripture in moments no man should endure.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

McKinley enlisted with resolve, joining the 23rd Ohio Infantry early in the Civil War. His country called; he answered without hesitation, answering a higher summons that knew no retreat.

The Battle That Defined Him: The Battle of Resaca, May 1864

By 1864, the war had consumed years and bled the nation dry. At Resaca, Georgia, Union forces sought to break Confederate lines in a brutal clash of wills. McKinley’s regiment was ordered to seize a critical position under heavy fire—a mission so harrowing it demanded more than mere courage.

Amid the roar of artillery and the whip of musket balls, McKinley rallied his men with steady commands. When the color bearer was struck down, McKinley grasped the flag, knowing full well it was a beacon and a target. Flag in hand, he advanced alone into shrapnel and enemy fire.

His defiant stand amid chaos anchored the Union line, preventing a collapse that would have cost countless lives. Wounded twice, he refused evacuation until the objective was secured.

Recognition: Medal of Honor and Testimony of Valor

McKinley’s actions at Resaca earned him the Medal of Honor, awarded years later in 1893. The citation speaks not just to bravery, but to ironclad resolve:

“For extraordinary heroism on 15 May 1864, in action at Resaca, Georgia. Sergeant McKinley gallantly seized and bore the colors of his regiment after several color bearers had been shot down and, though wounded, withheld the enemy until the advance of the main Union forces.”[1]

Lieutenant Colonel Charles W. Penrose recalled McKinley as “a rock in the storm, an unbreakable spirit whose courage galvanized us all.”

This was no act of ego. No soldier worth his salt sought medals on the battlefield. It was survival—and sacrifice—woven in every beat of his pounding heart.

Legacy of Courage and Redemption

William McKinley’s story is carved into the larger saga of a nation torn by civil war, but also healed by men who bore the scars to build a future. His flag-bearing bravery was a call to others: even when battered, stand firm.

His life reminds combat veterans that valor is often born not from grand strategy but raw, quiet determination. The scars of war—seen and unseen—are not marks of weakness but badges of endurance.

Among the ashes of death and despair, McKinley found faith to carry forward.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” — Matthew 5:9

The soldier’s legacy is not just in victories or medals. It’s in redemption, purpose reclaimed from the chaos, and the unwavering will to stand as a sentinel for the forgotten.

Men like William McKinley teach us this: courage is not absence of fear. It is a choice—made in moments that define the soul. War’s brutal truth leaves no easy way home, but through sacrifice and faith, a man can still find honor, purpose, and peace beyond the battlefield.

Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Civil War (M-Z) [2] Thomas B. Buell, Army Life and the Campaigns of the Chickamauga [3] Congressional Medal of Honor Society, William McKinley Citation Archive