Medal of Honor Monday: Army Capt. Thomas Custer

By Ammoland

By Katie Lange

USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- For this Medal of Honor Monday, we’re honoring a famous Custer, but not THE Custer you’re thinking of — Civil War Gen. George Custer, of “Custer’s last stand” fame.

Today, we’re honoring his brother, Capt. Thomas Custer, who became the first double recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Thomas Custer was born March 15, 1845, in New Rumley, Ohio. He was six years younger than his more famous brother, whom he idolized, and he wanted to follow him into the military.

When the Civil War broke out, Custer was only 16 and too young to join, so he lied about his age. He enlisted in the Army’s 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861.

Custer took part in several battles in Tennessee and Georgia before being sent to perform escort duties on the staff of three generals until his unit was disbanded. When Custer reenlisted in 1864, he was promoted to second lieutenant and transferred to the 6th Michigan Cavalry, which served in Virginia. There, he worked on the staff for his …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand