Thomas Cripps

Thomas H. Cripps (November 29, 1840 – December 4, 1906) was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who became a U.S. Medal of Honor winner during the American Civil War. While serving in the Union Navy as a quartermaster aboard the USS Richmond, he operated one of that's ship's guns under heavy enemy fire for two hours during the Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama on August 5, 1864, helping to damage the CSS Tennessee and destroy artillery batteries of the Confederate States Army at Fort Morgan, even as the enemy's shell and shot damaged his ship and killed several of his fellow crewmen. For those actions, he was awarded his nation's highest honor for bravery on December 31, 1864. Formative years and early military service Thomas H. Cripps was born on November 28, 1840, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was just 14 years old when he first enlisted with the U.S. Navy on May 14, 1855. Assigned as a 3rd class apprentice on the USS Union from that time until June 5, he was then transferred to: the , where he served until July 21, 1856: to the , where he served until February 24, 1857; and to the USS North Carolina, where he served as a 2nd class apprentice until March 26, 1857. From there, he was transferred again to: the USS Supply, where he served until August 20, 1857. During this assignment, he was injured on duty. A letter submitted in support of his naval pension by the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General in 1902 described what happened: "SUPPLY:— Admitted June 9, 1857. Vulnus laceratum (left hand). Medical Journal states: "Origin in the line of duty. The first finger of left hand jammed between rack while passing in ballast, in which act the fleshy part of the ball of the finger was torn off".