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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Thomas A. Pope

Corporal Thomas A. Pope, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 4, 1918 in Hamel, France during World War I.

World War I July 4, 1918

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Thomas A. Pope received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 4, 1918 in Hamel, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 1st Platoon, Company E, 131st Infantry, 33d Division. Pope was 23 years old.

The medal was presented on April 22, 1919.

Pope was born on December 15, 1894 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Pope died on June 14, 1989 in Maywood, Illinois, at the age of 94. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Pope is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

Official Medal of Honor citation

His company was advancing behind the tanks when it was halted by hostile machine-gun fire. Going forward alone, he rushed a machine-gun nest, killed several of the crew with his bayonet, and, standing astride his gun, held off the others until reinforcements arrived and captured them.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Thomas A. Pope received:

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Chicago — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. December 15, 1894
    Born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
  2. July 4, 1918
    Act of valor — Hamel, France
    Age 23. 1st Platoon, Company E, 131st Infantry, 33d Division
  3. April 22, 1919
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. June 14, 1989
    Died in Maywood, Illinois
    Age 94.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Thomas A. Pope (December 15, 1894 – June 14, 1989) was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Hamel, in France during World War I. Pope's unit was attached to an Australian Army battalion during the battle and, following a recommendation from an Australian officer, Pope was also awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, by King George V.

From the Wikipedia article “Thomas A. Pope”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

More World War I recipients from Illinois

Weedon Edward Osborne Lieutenant, j.g. · Navy World War I · 1918 ✦ Robert Guy Robinson Gunnery Sergeant · Marine Corps World War I · 1918 Harold Ernest Goettler First Lieutenant · Air Force World War I · 1918 ✦ Jake Allex Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 RH Ralyn M. Hill Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 Michael B. Ellis Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.