The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Assistant Surgeon George William Mathews, United States Army, for most distinguished gallantry on 29 October 1899, while serving with 36th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers, in action at Labo, Luzon, Philippine Islands. While in attendance upon the wounded and under a severe fire from the enemy, Assistant Surgeon Mathews seized a carbine and beat off an attack upon wounded officers and men under his charge.