The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private William B. Mayes, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 15 June 1864, while serving with Company K, 11th Iowa Infantry, in action at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia. With one companion and under a fierce fire from the enemy at short range, Private Mayes went to the rescue of a wounded comrade who had fallen between the lines and carried him to a place of safety.