William Shemin

William Shemin (October 14, 1896 – August 15, 1973) was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War I. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in action at Vesle River, near Bazoches, France. On June 2, 2015, William Shemin's daughters Elsie Shemin-Roth and Ina Bass accepted the nation's highest military award for valor on behalf of their father from President Barack Obama at the White House. Shemin was assigned to Company G, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces. The reason of the belated award is that in 2001, the U.S. Army began a review of all WWI awards to Jewish soldiers, and Shemin's previous Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. During his teenage years, he played semi-pro baseball. He graduated from the New York State Ranger School in 1914, and went on to work as a forester in Bayonne. Shemin enlisted in the Army, October 2, 1917. Upon completion of basic training at Camp Greene, North Carolina, he was assigned as a rifleman to Company G, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in France.

While serving as a rifleman from August 7–9, 1918, Shemin left the cover of his platoon's trench and crossed open space, repeatedly exposing himself to heavy machine gun and rifle fire to rescue the wounded. After officers and senior non-commissioned officers had become casualties, Shemin took command of the platoon and displayed great initiative under fire, until he was wounded on August 9. It was for this action that Shemin was originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on December 19, 1919. After graduation, he started a greenhouse and landscaping business in the Bronx, New York, where he raised three children. Shemin died in 1973.

Medal of Honor citation

Military awards Shemin's military decorations and awards include:

1st rowMedal of Honor2nd rowPurple HeartWorld War I Victory Medal w/two bronze service stars to denote credit for the Aisne-Marne and Defensive Sector battle claspsArmy of Occupation of Germany Medal