John C Clem Award

John Clem (August 13, 1851 – May 13, 1937), at age 9 in 1861, was adopted as the 22nd Michigan mascot and unofficial drummer boy.  He officially enlisted in 1863.  At the Battle of Chickamauga, he shot  a Confederate colonel who was trying to capture him.  Promoted to sergeant, he fought at Kennesaw, Murfreesboro, Perryville, and Atlanta, He was wounded twice and discharged 1864 at age 13.

Rejoining the Army in 1870, President Grant appointed him a second lieutenant. Clem rose to colonel and assistant quartermaster general by 1906, retiring in 1915 at the rank of major general. He had served 44 years and 11 months in the U.S. Army.  Clem died in San Antonio, Texas on May 13, 1937, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

He married Anna Rosetta French, on May 24, 1875. After her 1899 death, he married Bessie Sullivan in 1903. He had three children.