Thomas was born on the 12th of July, 1841 in Centre County, Pennsylvania and it was his actions with the 1st West Virginia Cavalry and the Union Army on the 8th of April, 1865, that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads: “Capture of Confederate flag”.

Thomas was a corporal and one of fourteen soldiers from the 1st West Virginia Cavalry to be awarded the Medal of Honor and Thomas A Anderson died on the 8th of September, 1841 at the age of 71. He is buried in the Dunkard Cemetery in Lone Pine, Pennsylvania.