Private Thomas Joseph Callen was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between June 25 and 26, 1876 in Little Big Horn, Montana during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company B, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Callen was 22 years old.
22 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 24, 1896, 20 years after the action.
Callen was born on July 13, 1853 in County Louth, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Callen died on March 5, 1908 in Yonkers, New York, at the age of 54. He is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in East Orange, New Jersey. Records also list him as Callan, Thomas Joseph.
Callen is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Volunteered and succeeded in obtaining water for the wounded of the command; also displayed conspicuously good conduct in assisting to drive away the Indians.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Indian Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- July 13, 1853Born in County Louth, Ireland
- June 25 - 26, 1876Act of valor — Little Big Horn, MontanaAge 22. Company B, 7th U.S. Cavalry
- October 24, 1896Medal of Honor presented
- March 5, 1908Died in Yonkers, New YorkAge 54.
- Resting placeHoly Sepulchre CemeteryEast Orange, New Jersey
Biography
Thomas Joseph Callan (July 12, 1853 – May 5, 1908) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876.
From the Wikipedia article “Thomas J. Callan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
