Corporal Thomas Parker was a Union Army soldier of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry who received the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

for heroism during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

Biography

Thomas Parker was born in 1822 in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. Following the outbreak of the American Civil War, Parker enlisted as a private in Company D of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry on June 6, 1861. He re-enlisted in the regiment on December 26, 1863. On June 17, 1864, the regiment was re-organized following the discharge of the original three year enlistees and Parker was transferred to Company B and promoted to

corporal Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...

. He was wounded in action near

Winchester, Virginia Winchester is the northwesternmost Administrative divisions of Virginia#Independent cities, independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It is the county seat of Frederick County, Virginia, Frederi ...

, on September 19, 1864. Corporal Parker received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the

Third Battle of Petersburg The Third Battle of Petersburg, also known as the Breakthrough at Petersburg or the Fall of Petersburg, was fought on April 2, 1865, south and southwest Virginia in the area of Petersburg, Virginia, at the end of the 292-day Richmond–Petersbur ...

, Virginia and the

Battle of Sayler's Creek A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force c ...

, Virginia on April 2, 1865, and April 6, 1865. He was mustered out of service with his regiment on July 13, 1865. Parker's Medal of Honor was officially awarded on May 29, 1867. After the war, Parker lived in

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

. He died in

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on April 27, 1872. He was originally interred in the American Mechanics Cemetery in Philadelphia. After that burial ground was closed in May 1951, he was re-interred to Philadelphia Memorial Cemetery in

Frazer, Pennsylvania Frazer is a census-designated place (CDP) in East Whiteland Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located along US 30 between Exton and Malvern, and is the northern terminus for Pennsylvania Route 352. The former ma ...

Medal of Honor citation

''Planted the first color on the enemy's works. Carried the regimental colors over the creek after the regiment had broken and been repulsed.''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Thomas (Medal of Honor) 1822 births 1872 deaths Union army soldiers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor