Thomas Sletteland was an Private

Private (rank)

A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...

 in the United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 and a 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...

 recipient for his actions in the Philippine-American War

Philippine-American War

The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...

.

He is buried in North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, North Dakota. His grave can be found at GPS (lat/lon): 46.751, -100.85053.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, Company C, 1st North Dakota Infantry. Place and date: Near Paete, Luzon, Philippine Islands, April 12, 1899. Entered service at: Grafton, N. Dak. Birth: Norway. Date of issue: March 11, 1902.

Citation:

Single-handed and alone defended his dead and wounded comrades against a greatly superior force of the enemy.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Philippine–American War Medal of Honor recipients