The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Joseph Van Matre, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 April 1865, while serving with Company G, 116th Ohio Infantry, in action at Petersburg, Virginia. In the assault on Fort Gregg, Private Van Matre climbed upon the parapet and fired down into the fort as fast as the loaded guns could be passed up to him by comrades.