Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
George
Damon
Rice
January 23, 1861

–

December 21, 1936

Cemetery:

San Francisco National Cemetery

George Rice grew up in the shadow of his uncle, Major Edmund Rice, who earned a Medal of Honor in the Civil War. He was educated at the Mount Vernon Military Academy, Chicago, Illinois, and at Tufts College Divinity School, where he was subsequently ordained as a Universalist Minister. In 1898, he was commissioned as a first lieutenant and an Army Chaplain, and served in the Spanish-American War, and subsequently in the Philippine Insurrection where he was cited for bravery. He also served in World War I. 1925 his earlier citation was upgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross, making him the first military chaplain to receive that high award.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    27th Infantry

    Action Date:

    May 2, 1902
    War Department, General Orders No. 14 (1925)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) George Damon Rice, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with 27th Infantry, in action at Bayan, Lake Lanao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, 2 May 1902. Chaplain Rice crossed a fire-swept field, in close range of the enemy, and brought a wounded soldier to a place of shelter. With utter disregard for his personal safety Chaplain Rice administered to the wants of the wounded and assisting them from the firing line to the dressing station. All this was accomplished under heavy fire at close range from the enemy in the fort.