Thomas was drafted into the U.S.Army and reported to duty on
February 8, 1943. He was 20 years old. Thomas was shipped by rail to Camp
Mackall North Carolina where he completed his basic training.
Soon Thomas found himself onboard a troopship and headed to
the South Pacific. After docking in New Guinea, Thomas volunteered to jump out
of airplanes as a paratrooper. He earned his wings while he was on the island.
Among his other duties Thomas was also a chaplain’s assistant
for four chaplains.
In late 1944 Thomas was part of the long awaited invasion to
take back the Philippine islands. He hit the beach in Leyte Gulf and fought in
the jungle for a month hunted Japanese soldiers.
Later Thomas hit the island of Luzon and eventually the
capital city of manila. There he most likely observed the horrors that the
Japanese had inflicted on Allied POW’s and the citizens of the Philippines’.
After the Philippines’ were declared secure, Thomas’ division
was transported to the island of Okinawa. After the end of the war, Thomas’
division was the first to occupy Japan, having landed at Atsugi airstrip.
Thomas and a chaplain were the third or fourth airplane that landed on now
occupied Japan.
Thomas’ awards included the Asiatic Campaign with 3
arrowheads and six stars. He also was given the Bronze Star, Parachutists
wings, Expert Rifleman Badge, the WWII Victory medal as well as the Good Conduct
medal.
He was discharged from the military on February 16, 1946.
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