Background
Kretsinger was born in Fairfield, New York, and entered service in Chicago, Illinois.
Kretsinger was born in Fairfield, New York, and entered service in Chicago, Illinois.
He was awarded the Medal of Honor, for extraordinary heroism shown in Henrico County, Virginia, for bravery in action during the Battle of Vicksburg, while serving as a Private with the Chicago Mercantile Battery in the Illinois Light Artillery on May 22, 1863. Kretsinger died on April 20, 1906 and was buried at Rosehill Cemetery, in Cook County, Illinois.
His Medal of Honor was issued on July 20, 1897. The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private George Kretsinger, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 22 May 1863, while serving with Chicago Mercantile Battery, Illinois Light Artillery, in action at Vicksburg, Mississippi.