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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Thomas J. Graves

Private Thomas J. Graves, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 1, 1898 in El Caney, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War July 1, 1898

Private Thomas J. Graves was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 1, 1898 in El Caney, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 17th U.S. Infantry. Graves was 31 years old.

23 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 22, 1899. He later rose to the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant.

Graves was born on September 29, 1866 in Milton, Wayne County, Indiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to Millville, Indiana. Graves died on January 27, 1944 in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 77. He is buried at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in East Germantown, Indiana. His medal is held by Cambridge City Public Library (History Room), Cambridge City, IN.

Graves is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the lines and under heavy fire from the enemy.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Milton — map
  • Buried: Indiana — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Indiana →

Timeline

  1. September 29, 1866
    Born in Milton, Wayne County, Indiana
  2. July 1, 1898
    Act of valor — El Caney, Cuba
    Age 31. Company C, 17th U.S. Infantry
  3. June 22, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. January 27, 1944
    Died in Dayton, Ohio
    Age 77.
  5. Resting place
    Zion Lutheran Cemetery
    East Germantown, Indiana

Biography

Thomas J. Graves (September 29, 1866 – January 27, 1944) was a private serving in the United States Army during the Spanish–American War who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

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

Also honored for actions on July 1, 1898

EB Edward Lee Baker Jr. Sergeant Major · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 GB George Francis Berg Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 OB Oscar Brookin Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 UB Ulysses G. Buzzard Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 Charles P. Cantrell Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 AC Andrew Johnson Cummins Sergeant · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 JD John Francis Deswan Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 TD Thomas M. Doherty Corporal · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 FF Frank Ottis Fournia Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 BH Benjamin Franklin Hardaway First Lieutenant · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 WK William G. Keller Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 TK Thomas Kelly Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898

See all 24 recipients for July 1, 1898 →

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.