The Congressional Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest honor of acknowledgment and appreciation for excellent and admirable performance on a particular duty. The American military awards soldiers who play an exemplary role in their respective positions in the field. This paper identifies Sergeant Thomas Shaw as a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor and the values he embodied, which can inspire people today.
Thomas Shaw joined the US Army at a young age and left just a year before his death. He was born enslaved in 1846 to a white woman named Shaw (Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, 2023). When he turned 18, Thomas ran away and joined the army. He fought in the Civil War and opted to remain in the military as a Buffalo soldier even after the war was over.
Sergeant Thomas exhibited bravery during a fight with the Indians. He demonstrated remarkable courage by holding his ground in a highly vulnerable position, successfully repelling enemies from the Apache Indian army (John et al., 2019). His actions prevented his command from being surrounded despite the numbers being against them (Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, 2023). This courage is praised today and expected of people, such as judges, who occupy positions of authority (Berkowitz, 2010). Shaw’s bravery won him the prestigious award, despite his background as an enslaved person.
Sergeant Thomas can serve as a role model to the current soldiers of the US Army. They should feel inspired to undertake their duties with bravery and courage. The soldiers can be inspired by the determination and courage he demonstrated from his youth, when he joined the Union Army. The Congressional Medal of Honor he received can also motivate current military and law enforcement personnel to demonstrate their determination in maintaining order, peace, and stability, with the hope of also receiving a guard of honor at some point in their lives.
References
Berkowitz, R. (2010). Why we must judge. Democracy Journal.
John, H., Salter, K. A., & Bunch III, L. G. (2019). We return fighting: World War I and the shaping of modern Black identity. Smithsonian Institution.
Notable Kentucky African Americans Database. (2023). Shaw, Thomas.