George F. Altemus was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, in 1838. He was a 23 year old clerk when, in response to the call of President Lincoln, enlisted at Norristown, Pennsylvania, on April 20, 1861 for three months, as a private in Company B, 4th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The 4th Pennsylvania mustered out after their three months service at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg on July 27, 1861. Altemus then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on August 23, 1861. He served at the Gosport Naval Shipyard for most of the Civil War. After the war he served for a year aboard the sloop of war U.S.S. Saratoga. Altemus was then transferred to Washington DC. In 1872 Altemus went to work for the Commandant of the Marine Corps and continued there as a Quartermaster Sergeant until his retirement in 1903. He served over 45 years in the Marine Corps. This U.S.M.C. Civil War Campaign Medal is un-numbered, however, it is named to Altemus on a gold and silver plate attached to the medal. This medal seems to have been worn by Altemus during the1925 GAR 59th National Encampment in Grand Rapids Michigan. His original U.S.M.C. Civil War Campaign Medal is numbered “1”. George F. Altemus died in Washington District of Columbia on October 18, 1927. He is buried in the Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D. C.
