Thomas E. O'Shea – Medal of Honor, World War I (1918)

Corporal Thomas E. O'Shea was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on September 29, 1918 near Le Catelet, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 3d Platoon, Machine Gun Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division. O'Shea was 23 years old.

O'Shea was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 10 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

O'Shea was born on April 18, 1895 in New York, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Summit, Union County, New Jersey. He is buried at Somme Cemetery in Bony Aisne, France.

O'Shea is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 93 credited to New Jersey.

★ Gave Their Lives ★ Against Enemy Armor

Official Medal of Honor citation

Becoming separated from their platoon by a smoke barrage, Cpl. O'Shea, with two other soldiers, took cover in a shell hole well within the enemy's lines. Upon hearing a call for help from an American tank, which had become disabled 30 yards from them, the three soldiers left their shelter and started toward the tank under heavy fire from German machine guns and trench mortars. In crossing the fire-swept area Cpl. O'Shea was mortally wounded and died of his wounds shortly afterwards.

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

Wounds and death in action

What the citation records about his wounds:

In crossing the fire-swept area Cpl. O'Shea was mortally wounded and died of his wounds shortly afterwards.

Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (September 29, 1918).
Age at death: 23
Resting place: Somme Cemetery

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Thomas E. O'Shea 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: New York City — map
Died: France — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New Jersey →

Timeline

April 18, 1895
Born in New York, New York
September 29, 1918
Act of valor — near Le Catelet, France
Age 23. 3d Platoon, Machine Gun Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division Killed in action.
Resting place
Somme Cemetery
Bony Aisne

Biography

Thomas E. O'Shea (April 18, 1895 – September 29, 1918) was a United States Army corporal during World War I. He was killed by Germans while trying to rescue others near Le Catelet, France on September 29, 1918. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. O'Shea was a resident of Summit, New Jersey. O'Shea is buried in the Somme American Cemetery and Memorial in Picardy, northern France.

From the Wikipedia article “Thomas E. O'Shea”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on September 29, 1918

JA Joseph B. Adkison Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 AE Alan Louis Eggers Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 FG Frank J. Gaffney Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918

Sydney G. Gumpertz First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918

John Cridland Latham Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ML Milo Lemert First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦

Frank Luke Jr. Second Lieutenant · Air Force World War I · 1918 ✦ GR George Seanor Robb First Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918 FS Fred E. Smith Lieutenant Colonel · Army World War I · 1918 ✦

Michael Valente Private · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from New Jersey

Ludovicus M.m van Iersel Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 FB Frank J. Bart Private · Army World War I · 1918 LM Louis Wardlaw Miles Captain · Army World War I · 1918 WS William Sawelson Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ JS John Otto Siegel Boatswain's Mate Second Class · Navy 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.