Thomas M. Doherty  was born May 11, 1869 in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland.  

He emigrated,  to the United States at age 16, arriving at the port of New York in 1885.  He settled in  Newcastle, Maine and listed Newcastle working as a coachman until enlisting in the US Army in 1891 

Thomas Doherty became a US citizen on February 1, 1897 while still at Plattsburgh Barracks.  As a member of Company H, Doherty participated in the battle of Santiago, Cuba on July 1, 1898. 

While in Cuba accompanied by four Privates and a musician from his company, Corporal Doherty received the Medal of Honor for risking his life to rescue wounded soldiers.  The citation reads: Gallantly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the lines and under heavy fire from the enemy.  

The Medal was awarded to him on June 22, 1899.  

During this same battle the Americans lost 205 men who were killed and an additional 1,180 were wounded. While the Army defeated the Spanish who also lost 58 men with 170 wounded, and 39 captured the battle  of San Juan Hill was describe as a
hell on earth.  

After the battle of San Juan Hill, Doherty's unit returned to Plattsburgh in August, 1898, and Doherty spent the months of September and October in hospital in Boston, Mass.  Doherty 
rejoined his unit, and the 21st was sent to Manila in April, 1899, fighting in three expeditions during the 
Philippine Insurrection.  
Following these battles Doherty spent time ill and in and out of various military hospitals for extended periods between 1898 to April, 1902. 

 He was transferred from the 15th to the 4th Infantry in March, 1904 and was appointed Battery Sergeant Major, moving him from combat readiness to administration.  In April of 1906, Doherty came with the 4th Infantry to Fort Thomas, Kentucky as a Color Sgt., part of the Color Guard.  He received orders to 
transfer once more in August, 1906 – this time to Ft. Benjamin Harrison in Indiana.  

Before he transferred, Thomas Doherty committed suicide sometime during the night of September 21, 1906, 
using his service revolver. Doherty was buried in the soldiers section of Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate, Kentucky.  

THOMAS M DOHERTY

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SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

MEDAL OF HONOR

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