Long Description:From the Army History website detail on William Trembley's Citation:
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Rank and organization: Private, Company B, 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry. Place and date: At Calumpit, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 27 April 1899. Entered service at: Kansas City, Kans. Birth: Johnson, Kans. Date of issue: 11 March 1902. Citation: Swam the Rio Grande de Pampanga in face of the enemy's fire and fastened a rope to the occupied trenches, thereby enabling the crossing of the river and the driving of the enemy from his fortified position.
William Trembley is in the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame and their website has more information about Mr. Trembley's service after receiving the Medal of Honor and the details of his death:
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William Trembley was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for performance above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 20th Kansas Volunteer Regiment in the Philippine Campaign of the Spanish-American War.
In face of enemy fire, CPL Trembley swam the Rio Grande de Pampanga River and fastened a rope, enabling U.S. forces to cross the river and drive the enemy from fortified positions.
Trembley enlisted into military service of the United States on April 27, 1898, as a private in Company B, 20th Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Infantry, he was mustered out October 28, 1899. After the war, he returned to Kansas City where he earned his law degree. In 1917, he received a commission as 1LT from President Wilson and spent 18 months in France as a machinegun instructor for Company C, 332nd Machine Gun Battalion.
In 1921, Trembley was appointed postmaster of Kansas City by congressman COL E. C. Little. He he received support for another term from Sen. Arthur Capper and then Rep. U. S. Guyer. He served 14 years in that position. According to the January 14, 1952 Kansas City Kansan, "Trembley served several times as president of the Twentieth Kansas Volunteers' association, a state organization of veterans. He served as a member of the board of trustees of the Memorial building through appointment by Mayor Don C. McCombs, and had continued as a trustee for almost 19 years He was active whenever Memorial day parades or other recognitions of veterans were being arranged, and often served as grand marshal and honorary grand marshal of such parades."
He died at 10 o'clock on January 13, 1952 at Pharr, Texas, while on winter break with his wife and sister. He was buried at Monticello Methodist Church Cemetery in Olathe, Kansas. The U.S. Army Reserve Center in Kansas City is named after White and Trembley.
Details of the campaigns of the 2oth Kansas "the Fighting 20th" in the Philippines from KsGenWeb Library:
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A short history from Correspondence Relating to the War With Spain (vol 1 p.593), Adjutant-General's Office:
Twentieth Regiment. -- Organized at Topeka, Kansas City, Leavenworth, Pittsburg, Leroy, Fort Scott, Independence, Lawrence, Osawatomie, Abilene, and Saline, Kans., April 27 to May 5, 1898, and mustered into the service of the United States at Topeka May 9 to 13, with 46 officers and 964 enlisted men. Left Topeka May 16; arrived at San Francisco May 20; assigned to Second Independent Brigade, Eighth Army Corps. Headquarters and Companies C, D, E, G, H, I, K, and M, sailed from San Francisco on transport Indiana October 27, arriving at Manila, P. I., November 30. Companies A, B, F, and L sailed on transport Newport November 8, arriving at Manila December 7. Regiment assigned to First Brigade, Second Division, Eighth Army Corps, December 9. Participated in engagements around Manila February 4, 5, and 6; uprising in Manila, February 23; engagement at Caloocan, February 10, and defense of Caloocan, February 11 to March 24; engagements at Tuliajan River, March 25; Polo, March 26; Marilao, March 27; Bocaue and Guiguinto, March 29; advance on Malolos, March 30 and 31; engagement at Bagbag River, April 25; Rio Grande, April 26 and 27; Santo Tomas, May 4; Bacolor, May 24; defense of San Fernando, May 6 to June 25, and engagements near San Fernando, May 25 and June 16; reconnaissance's to Santa Rita, May 25; to Bulacan, April 1, and Paranaque, August 2. The regiment was relieved from duty in the field and returned to Manila June 24. Sailed from Manila on transport Tarter September 3; arrived at San Francisco October 10. Mustered out of the service of the United States at San Francisco October 28, 1899, with 46 officers and 720 enlisted men. Casualties while in service: Officers -- killed in action, 3; wounded, 20. Enlisted men -- killed in action, 19; wounded, 120; died of wounds, 11; died of disease, 35; deserted, 4.
This short history has been graciously submitted to KSGenWeb for use on this web page by Walter Gentala, grandson of Pvt. John Jay Humbert, Co. A, 20th KS.
