| Thomas E. O'Shea | |
| Birth Date: | 18 April 1895 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, US |
| Death Place: | near Le Catelet, France |
| Allegiance: | United States of America |
| Branch: | United States Army |
| Servicenumber: | 1212577 |
| Unit: | O'Ryan's Roughneck's Machine Gun Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division |
| Awards: | Medal of Honor |
Thomas E. O'Shea (April 18, 1895 – September 29, 1918) was a United States Army corporal during World War I. He was killed by Germans while trying to rescue others near Le Catelet, France on September 29, 1918. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. O'Shea was a resident of Summit, New Jersey.[1]
O'Shea is buried in the Somme American Cemetery and Memorial in Picardy, northern France.
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.
O'Shea's military decorations and awards include:
| 1st row | Medal of Honor | World War I Victory Medal w/three bronze service stars to denote credit for the Somme Offensive, Ypres-Lys and Defensive Sector battle clasps. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd row | Distinguished Conduct Medal (Great Britain) | Médaille militaire (French Republic) | Croix de guerre 1914–1918 w/bronze palm (French Republic) | ||||||
| 3rd row | Croce al Merito di Guerra (Italy) | Medal for Military Bravery (Kingdom of Montenegro) | Medalha da Cruz de Guerra, Third Class (Portuguese Republic) | ||||||
