Sergeant Thomas Burk was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 6, 1864 at Wilderness Campaign, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 97th New York Infantry. Burk was 23 years old.
12 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 24, 1896, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
Burk was born on August 7, 1840 in Lewis County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Harrisburgh, Lewis County, New York. Burk died on February 15, 1926 in Lowville, New York, at the age of 85. He is buried at Lowville Rural Cemetery in Lowville, New York.
Burk is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
At the risk of his own life, Burk went back while the rebels were still firing and, finding Col. Wheelock unable to move, alone and unaided, carried him off the field of battle.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- August 7, 1840Born in Lewis County, New York
- May 6, 1864Act of valor — Wilderness Campaign, VirginiaAge 23. Company H, 97th New York Infantry
- August 24, 1896Medal of Honor presented
- February 15, 1926Died in Lowville, New YorkAge 85.
- Resting placeLowville Rural CemeteryLowville, New York
Biography
Sergeant Thomas Burk (August 7, 1840 – February 15, 1926) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Burk received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of the Wilderness on 6 May 1864. He was honored with the award on 24 August 1896.
From the Wikipedia article “Thomas Burk”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
