The five-rayed star (Army, first model) embossed in copper and bronzed, standing upright on one tip, bearing the engraver's signature "Paquet F.". The eagle riband buckle fastened with rings and the suspension bar with a safety pin, both also embossed in bronzed copper. On the original ribbon in the design issued between 1896 and 1903. The dedication "The Congress to Private Thomas Kelly - C° H 21st U.S.Infty., for gallantry in action at Santiago, Cuba, July 1, 1898" inscribed on the back. Width 53.3 mm.
Introduced as the highest decoration for bravery by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861, during the American Civil War, the Medal of Honor has been awarded approximately 3,500 times to date.
A native of Ireland, Thomas Kelly died in New York in 1920. As a member of the H Company of the 21st Infantry Regiment he took part in the attack on the Spanish troops in Santiago, Cuba, that began on June 22, 1898. On July 1st, the regiment fought in the Battle of San Juan Hill, on which occasion "Private Kelly assisted in the rescue of the wounded from in front of the line and while under heavy fire from the enemy".
Condition: I - II