Thomas Mitchell (Medal of Honor)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Mitchell 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 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:
Mitchell left the Navy while still a landsman. He died on July 18, 1942, at age 84 or 85 and was buried at Long Island National Cemetery
in Suffolk County, New York
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
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
Landman (rank)
Landman was a military rank given to naval recruits.-United Kingdom:In the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom in the middle of the 18th century , the term Landman referred to a seaman with less than a year's experience at sea...
on the at Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, 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. Caulan, first class boy, serving with him on the same vessel, at Shanghai, China, 17 November 1879.
Mitchell left the Navy while still a landsman. He died on July 18, 1942, at age 84 or 85 and was buried at Long Island National Cemetery
Long Island National Cemetery
Long Island National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in Suffolk County, New York. Its mailing address is Farmingdale. It is within the CDPS of Wyandanch, in the Town of Babylon, and Melville in the Town of Huntington...
in Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime