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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

Thomas R. Kerr

Captain Thomas R. Kerr, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 7, 1864 in Moorefield, West Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 7, 1864Born in Ireland

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain Thomas R. Kerr received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 7, 1864 in Moorefield, West Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Kerr was 21 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 13, 1894, 29 years after the action.

Kerr was born on April 24, 1843 in near Colleraine, County Derry, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Kerr died on November 14, 1926 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the age of 83. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Kerr is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

After being most desperately wounded, he captured the colors of the 8th Virginia Cavalry (C.S.A.).

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Coleraine — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. April 24, 1843
    Born in near Colleraine, County Derry, Ireland
  2. August 7, 1864
    Act of valor — Moorefield, West Virginia
    Age 21. Company C, 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry
  3. June 13, 1894
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. November 14, 1926
    Died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    Age 83.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Thomas R. Kerr (April 24, 1843 – November 14, 1926) was a soldier in the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment of the Union Army in the American Civil War. Kerr received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Kerr's medal was won for his capturing the flag of the Confederate 8th Virginia Cavalry Regiment in the Battle of Moorefield that occurred in West Virginia on August 7, 1864. He was honored with the award on June 13, 1894.

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

Also honored for actions on August 7, 1864

AP Ambrose Porter Commissary Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

Joseph E. Vantine First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 JO Jacob George Orth Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 Joseph Kirby Corson Assistant Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1863 JW John Henry White Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Aaron Sanderson Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 WG William Ernest Goodman First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863
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.