Thomas Joseph Kersey
Navy Medal of Honor
Born	August 1846 St. John's, Newfoundland
Died	April 16, 1888 (aged 41–42) Chelsea, Massachusetts, US
Place of burial	St. Mary's Cemetery, Newport, Rhode Island
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Navy
Rank	Ordinary Seaman
Unit	USS Plymouth
Awards	Medal of Honor

Thomas Joseph Kersey (August 1846 – April 16, 1888) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Born in 1846 in St. John's, Newfoundland, Kersey immigrated to the United States and was living in Everett, Massachusetts, when he joined the Navy on October 19, 1870, for a 3-year enlistment.^[1][2]

By July 26, 1876, he was serving as an ordinary seaman on the 14-gun screw sloop USS Plymouth. On that day, he rescued a crewmate from drowning at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor two weeks later, on August 9. Two other Plymouth sailors, Landsman William Corey and Seaman Charles Gidding, attempted to rescue a shipmate from drowning on the same day and also received the medal.^[3]

He later served on the USS Wabash and the USS New Hampshire. He was married to Mary C. Egan.

Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1847, St. John's, Newfoundland. Accredited to: Massachusetts. G.O. No.: 215, 9 August 1876.

Kersey's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

Serving on board the U.S.S. Plymouth at the Navy Yard, New York, 26 July 1876, Kersey displayed bravery and presence of mind in rescuing from drowning one of the crew of that vessel.^[1]

Kersey was admitted to the Chelsea Naval Hospital on April 2, 1888, and died there of nephritis (kidney inflammation) on April 16, 1888, at age 41 years and 8 months. He was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island.

• List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime