Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Thomas M. Burke received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 30, 1863 in Hanover, Pennsylvania during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 5th New York Cavalry. Burke was about 21 years old.
The medal was presented on February 11, 1878, 14 years after the action.
Burke was born in 1842 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Burke died on March 15, 1902, at the age of about 60. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, New York.
Burke 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
Capture of battle flag.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
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Timeline
- 1842Born in Ireland
- June 30, 1863Act of valor — Hanover, PennsylvaniaAge about 21. Company A, 5th New York Cavalry
- February 11, 1878Medal of Honor presented
- March 15, 1902DiedAge about 60.
- Resting placeCalvary CemeteryWoodside, New York
Biography
Private Thomas M. Burke (1842 – March 15, 1902) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Burke received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Hanover, Pennsylvania on June 30, 1863.
From the Wikipedia article “Thomas Burke (Medal of Honor soldier)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
