The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Sergeant Gaines Lawson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 3 October 1863, while serving with Company D, 4th Tennessee (East) Infantry, in action at Minville, Tennessee. First Sergeant Lawson went to the aid of a wounded comrade between the lines and carried him to a place of safety.