Thomas Burke (Medal of Honor sailor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Burke
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The Medal of Honor awarded to Thomas Burke
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| Born | 1833 Galway, Ireland |
| Died | April 23, 1883 (aged 51) Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
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| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Navy |
| Rank | Seaman |
| Unit | USS De Soto |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Thomas Burke (1833 – 27 October 1883) was an Irish-American sailor who served in the United States Navy. He received the Medal of Honor, which is the highest award for bravery a person can get in the U.S. military. This special medal is given for acts of incredible courage, usually in dangerous situations.
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Thomas Burke's Life and Bravery
Thomas Burke was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1833. Later, he moved to the United States. On January 21, 1862, he joined the U.S. Navy.
By May 10, 1866, Thomas Burke was working as a seaman, which is a type of sailor, on a ship called the USS De Soto. On that day, the ship was near Eastport, Maine. Something dangerous happened: two sailors from another ship, the USS Winooski, were in trouble and about to drown.
Thomas Burke, along with two of his shipmates, Richard Bates and John Brown, acted quickly and bravely. They rushed to help and successfully rescued the two drowning sailors.
Why Thomas Burke Received the Medal of Honor
For their heroic actions, Thomas Burke and his two friends were given the Medal of Honor. This happened about three months later, on August 1, 1866. The official reason for his award, called a citation, explains exactly what he did:
- For heroic conduct, with two comrades, in rescuing from drowning James Rose and John Russell, seamen, of the U.S.S. Winooski, off Eastport, Maine, 10 May 1866.
This shows that Thomas Burke was a very brave person who risked his own safety to save others.
Where Thomas Burke is Buried
Thomas Burke passed away in 1883 when he was 51 years old. He was buried at St. Michael's Church in Pensacola, Florida. For a long time, some records mistakenly said he was buried in Washington, D.C. However, it has been confirmed that he was never buried there. There are other veterans with the same name in Washington, D.C., but none of them received the Medal of Honor.
Many people and groups worked hard to correct this mistake. These included staff from St. Elizabeth's, the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the US, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and the National Cemeteries Administration. They helped make sure that Thomas Burke's true burial place was known.
St. Michael's Church in Pensacola has several burial areas, and efforts are still being made to find the exact spot where Thomas Burke rests.
See also
