Landsman Thomas Mitchell was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 17, 1879 in Shanghai, China — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Richmond. Mitchell was about 22 years old.
Mitchell was born in 1857 in New York, New York. Mitchell died on July 18, 1942, at the age of about 85. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Serving on board the U.S.S. Richmond, Mitchell rescued from drowning, M.F. Caulan, first class boy, serving with him on the same vessel, at Shanghai, China, 17 November 1879.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
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Timeline
- 1857Born in New York, New York
- November 17, 1879Act of valor — Shanghai, ChinaAge about 22. U.S.S. Richmond
- July 18, 1942DiedAge about 85.
- Resting placeLong Island National CemeteryFarmingdale, New York
Biography
Thomas Mitchell (1857 – July 18, 1942) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Born in 1857 in New York, New York, Mitchell joined the Navy from that state. By November 17, 1879, he was serving as a landsman on the USS Richmond at Shanghai, China. On that day, he rescued a shipmate, First Class Boy M. F. Caulan, from drowning. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor five years later, on October 18, 1884. Mitchell's official Medal of Honor citation reads: Serving on board the U.S.S. Richmond, Mitchell rescued from drowning, M. F.
From the Wikipedia article “Thomas Mitchell (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
