The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Edward Herrick Gibson, United States Army, for most distinguished gallantry on 19 December 1899, while serving with Company M, 27th Infantry, U.S. Volunteers, in action at San Mateo, Philippine Islands. Sergeant Gibson attempted under a heavy fire of the enemy to swim a river for the purpose of obtaining and returning with a canoe.