Thomas Cahey

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Thomas Cahey
Grave at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 6
Born(1870-04-13)April 13, 1870
Belfast, Ireland
DiedJanuary 5, 1935(1935-01-05) (aged 64)
Place of burial
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
RankChief Gunner's Mate
UnitUSS Petrel (PG-2)
AwardsMedal of Honor

Thomas Cahey (April 13, 1870 – January 5, 1935) was a United States Navy sailor who received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Born in Belfast, Ireland, on April 13, 1870, Cahey immigrated to the United States and joined the U.S. Navy from New York. By March 31, 1901, he was serving as a seaman on the USS Petrel (PG-2). On that day, he helped rescue several crewmates during a fire on the ship. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on March 22, 1902.[1]

Cahey's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Petrel for heroism and gallantry, fearlessly exposing his own life to danger in saving others on the occasion of the fire on board that vessel, 31 March 1901.[1]

Cahey reached the rank of chief gunner's mate before leaving the Navy. He died at age 64 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia.[2]

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References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Medal of Honor recipients - Interim Awards, 1901-1911". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  2. ^ Arlington National Cemetery