Thomas Cruse – Brigadier General, United States Army

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Born at Owensboro, Kentucky, on December 29, 1857, he attended Center College in Kentucky in 1874-75 and graduated from West Point in 1879.

He was an Honor Graduate of the Infantry-Cavalry School in 1891, a graduate from the Army War College in 1916. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, 6th United States Cavalry in Arizona on June 13, 1879; First Lieutenant, Septmber 28, 1887; Captain, Acting Quartermaster, December 1, 1896; Major, Quartermaster, July 5, 1902; Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Quartermaster General, February 17, 1910; Colonel, Quartermaster Corps, February 1, 1913; and Brigadier General, January 9, 1917.

He retired from active duty in January 1918.

He was awarded the Medal of Honor “for distinguished gallantry in action with hostile Indians,” August 1882. He also was awarded the Indian Campaign Medal and the Philippine Campaign Medal.

He wrote “Apache Days and After.”

He resided in Longport, New Jersey, and died on June 8, 1943. He was buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Beatrice Cottrell Cruse (1862-1936) is buried with him.

Thanks to Michael T. Stein for helping to solve this mystery:
He married Beatrice Cottrell on February 14th, 1882
Children: Fred Taylor Cruse, James Thomas Cruse (deceased)

Click on the above link to learn more about Midshipman James Thomas Cruse. He was killed in an explosion aboard the USS Georgia in 1907.  He he buried under a large monument, just a few feet from his parents.

Thomas Cruse of Kentucky
Appointed from Kentucky, Cadet, United States Military Academy, 1 Sept 1875 (26)
Second Lieutenant, 6th U. S. Cavalry, 13 June 1879
First Lieutenant, 28 September 1887
Captain, Assistant Quartermaster General, 1 December 1896
Major, Quartermaster of U. S. Volunteers, 12 May 1898
Honorably discharged from Volunteer service, 1 May 1901
Major, Quartermaster, United States Army, 5 July 1902
Brevetted First Lieutenant, 27 February 1890 for gallant service in action against Indians at Big Dry Wash, Arizona
Awarded the Medal of Honor, 12 July 1892 for distinguished conduct in action against hostile Apache Indianas at Big Dry Wash, Arizizona, 17 July 1882 gallantly charging the enemy and also with his carbine compelling a party of them to keep under cover of their breast- works thus being enabled to recover a soldier severely wounded while serving as Second Lieutenant, 6th U. S. Cavalry

CRUSE, BEATRICE COTTRELL W/O THOMAS

  • DATE OF DEATH: 02/15/1936
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 02/18/1936
  • BURIED AT: SECTION SOUTH
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
  • WIFEOF THOMAS CRUSE – BRIGADIER GENERAL US ARMY RET

CRUSE, THOMAS
BRIG GEN USA

  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
  • DATE OF DEATH: 06/09/1943
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 06/06/1949
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 3  SITE 1763 S.H
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

tcruse-02

CRUSE, THOMAS

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Big Dry Fork, Arizona, 17 July 1882. Entered service at: Owensboro, Kentucky. Birth: Owensboro, Kentucky. Date of issue: 12 July 1892.

Citation:

Gallantly charged hostile Indians, and with his carbine compelled a party of them to keep under cover of their breastworks, thus being enabled to recover a severely wounded soldier.

tcruse-mrp

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