The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Joseph Hanks, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 22 May 1863, while serving with Company E, 37th Ohio Infantry, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Private Hanks voluntarily and under fire went to the rescue of a wounded comrade lying between the lines, gave him water, and brought him off the field.