In 1892 he received the Medal of Honor for "distinguished conduct in a desperate hand-to-hand encounter, in which the advance of the enemy was checked," at Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864.
1892 erhielt Thomas die Medal of Honor für „Distinguished conduct in a desperate hand-to-hand encounter, in which the advance of the enemy was checked“ für seinen Einsatz während der Schlacht am Cedar Creek am 19. Oktober 1864.