Thomas Shaw (Medal of Honor)

Thomas Shaw

Sergeant Thomas Shaw
Born 1846
Covington, Kentucky
Died June 23, 1895 (aged 48–49)
Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Sergeant
Unit 9th Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars American Indian Wars
Awards Medal of Honor

Thomas Shaw (1846 – June 23, 1895) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration – the Medal of Honor – for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.

Biography

Shaw joined the Army from Pike County, Missouri, and by August 12, 1881 was serving as a Sergeant in Company K of the 9th Cavalry Regiment. On that day he participated in an engagement at Carrizo Canyon in New Mexico. For his actions during the engagement, Shaw was awarded the Medal of Honor nine years later, on December 7, 1890.

Shaw died in 1895 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.[1] His grave can be found in section 27, lot 952, map grid BB 48.[1]

Thomas Shaw in 1889 as a Sergeant in K Troop, 9th Cavalry

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company K, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Carrizo Canyon, N. Mex., August 12, 1881. Entered service at: Pike County, Mo. Birth: Covington, Ky. Date of issue: December 7, 1890.

Citation
Forced the enemy back after stubbornly holding his ground in an extremely exposed position and prevented the enemy's superior numbers from surrounding his command.[2]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Thomas Shaw". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  2. ↑ "Indian War Period Medal of Honor recipients". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. 2005-04-19. Retrieved 2007-01-15.

References

"Thomas Shaw". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-01-15. 

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