I am honoring Thomas Plunkett this morning, and I ask that you remember this man, an Irish immigrant who earned the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Fredericksburg on this day 161 years ago.

Plunkett was a color bearer, responsible for carrying the regimental guidon, the crucial communication tool and rallying point for his entire unit. If the colors fell in battle, many units fell into confusion or worse.

Knowing this, Plunkett did everything in his power to keep the powers aloft, even after a Confederate cannonball slammed into his chest and shredded his arms. Plunkett pressed the regimental colors to his chest with the stumps of his arms, and pressed forward.

Another soldier eventually grabbed the colors from Plunkett so he could get medical aid, but Plunkett’s example kept his regiment together. He lost both arms, and he endured two hard years of recovery.

The Battle of Fredericksburg was a horrendous ordeal, especially so for the Irish soldiers who fought there, and I will be writing more about it later this week. For now, please honor and remember Thomas Plunkett, great American!