Sergeant Thomas Shaw was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 12, 1881 at Carrizo Canyon, New Mexico during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company K, 9th U.S. Cavalry. Shaw was about 35 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 7, 1890, 9 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of First Sergeant.
Shaw was born in 1846 in Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky. His Medal of Honor is credited to Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. Shaw died on June 23, 1895 in Washington, District of Columbia, at the age of about 49. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Shaw is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 24 credited to Louisiana.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Forced the enemy back after stubbornly holding his ground in an extremely exposed position and prevented the enemy's superior numbers from surrounding his command.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Indian Wars.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Louisiana →
Timeline
- 1846Born in Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky
- August 12, 1881Act of valor — Carrizo Canyon, New MexicoAge about 35. Company K, 9th U.S. Cavalry
- December 7, 1890Medal of Honor presented
- June 23, 1895Died in Washington, District of ColumbiaAge about 49.
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Thomas Shaw (c. 1846 – June 23, 1895) was a Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration – the Medal of Honor – for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.
From the Wikipedia article “Thomas Shaw (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
