The Proudest Small Town In America Harrison County Veterans Memorial
Courthouse, US-127
Cadiz, Harrison County
There are no inspirational quotations here at the Harrison County courthouse. None are needed. This was the birthplace of Lt Col Thomas Ward Custer and his brother Major General George Armstrong Custer. Most Americans know the latter brother immediately as an indian fighter in the Wild West. Very few have even heard of Thomas Ward Custer, an unusual man in American history - he was TWICE awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Tragically, this brave soldier suffer a fate similar to his older brother; he was killed by indians and his body mutilated at the Little Big Horn in 1876.
Another Harrison County MOH winner was Orlando Henderson Petty. He was a US Navy surgeon before the start of World War I and at the start of hostilities he went to France. In June of 1918, amidst heavy shelling and gas attacks, Petty stayed at his aid station despite the fact that his gas mask was torn by shrapnel. For his bravery that day, Petty was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star Citation,, the French Croix de Guerre, and the Italian Croce di Guerra, in addition to the Medal of Honor.
