Biden awards posthumous Medal of Honor to two Civil War heroes
Updates with Biden awarding medals, paragraphs 1-2, 4, 9
By Andrea Shalal
WASHINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) -President Joe Biden awarded the Medal of Honor on Wednesday to two late U.S. Army privates who were part of a daring Union Army contingent that stole a Confederate train during the Civil War.
The White House ceremony offered Biden a brief respite from the mounting criticism of some fellow Democrats after his shaky and halting performance in last week's presidential debate against Republican former President Donald Trump.
Philip Shadrach and George Wilson were honored posthumously during a White House ceremony that recognized their "gallantry and intrepidity" during what became known as the Great Locomotive Chase, one of the earliest special operations in U.S. Army history, according to the White House.
Biden read remarks honoring the men's actions from a teleprompter and made no noticeable errors in delivery. His son, Hunter Biden, was in the audience.
The Civil War operation took place 200 miles (322 km) behind Confederate lines on April 12, 1862. Union soldiers dressed as civilians commandeered a train and drove it north toward Chattanooga, Tennessee, placing explosives on the track behind them to destroy Confederate infrastructure.
Six of those participants became the Army's first recipients of the then-newly created Medal of Honor. Shadrach and Wilson were both hanged for their actions after being captured. They were not previously given presidential honors.
"Today, we right that wrong," Biden said. "Today, they finally receive the recognition they deserve."
The Medal of Honor is awarded to military servicemembers who distinguish themselves at the risk of their own lives.
Reporting by Andrea Shalal; additional reporting by Steve Holland; editing by Trevor Hunnicutt
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
