Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Thomas Murphy received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 25, 1869 at Seneca Mountain, Arizona during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company F, 8th U.S. Cavalry. Murphy was about 33 years old.
6 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 3, 1870.
Murphy was born in 1836 in County Kerry, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. Murphy died on June 27, 1881 in Fort Grant, Arizona, at the age of about 45. He is buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Murphy is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 142 credited to California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Gallantry in action.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Timeline
- 1836Born in County Kerry, Ireland
- August 25, 1869Act of valor — Seneca Mountain, ArizonaAge about 33. Company F, 8th U.S. Cavalry
- March 3, 1870Medal of Honor presented
- June 27, 1881Died in Fort Grant, ArizonaAge about 45.
- Resting placeSanta Fe National CemeterySanta Fe, New Mexico