The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Thomas Sletteland, United States Army, for most distinguished gallantry on 12 April 1899, while serving with Company C, 1st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry, in action at Paete, Luzon, Philippine Islands. Single-handed and alone, Private Sletteland defended his dead and wounded comrades against a greatly superior force of the enemy.