Thomas E. O'Shea

Corporal, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War I

Corporal Thomas E. O'Shea (18 April 1895 - 29 September 1918) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War I.

Thomas E. O'Shea was born on 18 April 1895 in New York City, NY, and entered the Army at Summit, NJ.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Machine Gun Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division.

Place and date: Near Le Catelet, France, 29 September 1918.

Citation: Becoming separated from their platoon by a smoke barrage, Cpl. O'Shea, with 2 other soldiers, took cover in a shell hole well within the enemy's lines. Upon hearing a call for help from an American tank, which had become disabled 30 yards from them, the 3 soldiers left their shelter and started toward the tank under heavy fire from German machineguns and trench mortars. In crossing the fire-swept area Cpl. O'Shea was mortally wounded and died of his wounds shortly afterwards.

Death and Burial

Corporal Thomas E. O'Shea was killed in action on 29 September 1918. He is buried at the Somme American Cemetery and Memorial in Picardie, France, in Plot B-16-14.