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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Thomas Kelly

Private Thomas Kelly, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on July 1, 1898 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War July 1, 1898Born in Ireland

Private Thomas Kelly was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 1, 1898 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 21st U.S. Infantry.

23 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 22, 1899.

Kelly was born in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Kelly died on December 17, 1920. He is buried at Post Barracks Cemetery in Plattsburg, New York.

Kelly is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Rescue & Lifesaving

Official Medal of Honor citation

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

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Ireland — map
  • Buried: New York — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. Date unknown
    Born in Ireland
  2. July 1, 1898
    Act of valor — Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
    Company H, 21st U.S. Infantry
  3. June 22, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 17, 1920
    Died
  5. Resting place
    Post Barracks Cemetery
    Plattsburg, New York

Biography

Thomas Kelly (March 17, 1871 – December 17, 1920) 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 Kelly (Medal of Honor, 1898)”, 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 TG Thomas J. Graves 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

See all 24 recipients for July 1, 1898 →

More Spanish-American War recipients from New York

Richmond Pearson Hobson Lieutenant · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GS Gustav Adolf Sundquist Ordinary Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 JJ Johan J. Johansson Ordinary Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 JM John Maxwell Fireman Second Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 WS William Spicer Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 Claus Kristian randolph Clausen Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 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.