Memorial Day Weekend reading assignment

Take the the time this Memorial Day to read about Wisconsin's "boy colonel," Medal of Honor recipient Arthur MacArthur. MacArthur, father of MOH recipient Douglas MacArthur, has a story that I'd bet most Wisconsinites either do not know or have forgotten. Here's a sample of his story:

Among the units advancing on the entrenched Confederate soldiers that day was the 24th Wisconsin Infantry. The unit detailed to advance the colors was led by an 18-year old First Lieutenant named Arthur MacArthur. When the soldier assigned to carry the battle flag of the 24th Wisconsin fell to an enemy bayonet, another soldier rushed forward to hoist the flag. The roar of cannon fire filled the ridge and the second color bearer fell, decapitated by a cannon ball. Bloody and wounded, Arthur MacArthur retrieved the colors himself. Raising the already battle-scared flag high he turned to his troops with the shout "On Wisconsin!" and proceeded up the ridge. As MacArthur reached the summit he firmly planted the staff of the flag in the ground. Below him the advancing soldiers saw their flag, battered and scarred, waving in the breeze at the top of the precipice. Their hearts filled with inspiration they surged forward, doing the improbable, achieving victory at Missionary Ridge.

Read the rest of MacArthur's story here, and look up Medal of Honor recipients from your neck of the woods here.