134th Infantry Regiment Website
35th Infantry Division Research Center
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
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134th Infantry Regiment Website35th Infantry Division Research Center"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
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Leonard George Thomas, son of George and Adelia (Folmsbee) Thomas, was born July 30, 1911 in Camp, Arkansas. He was a Machine Gunner in Company M, 137th Infantry Regiment and landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy France July 7, 1944. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge on August 1, 1944 and the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Gremecey, France on September 27, 1944. He was transferred to B Battery, 127th Field Artillery Battalion January 24, 1945. After the war's end, he returned to the U.S. aboard the Queen Mary departing Southampton, England on September 5, 1945 and arriving in New York Harbor 5 days later on Monday, September 10, 1945. Sgt Leonard G Thomas passed away June 19, 1986. He is buried at Camp Cemetery, Camp AR.
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Silver Star Medal Citation |
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Sergeant Leonard G Thomas, 38446649, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action near * * * , France on 27 September 1944. After the enemy had cut off his machine gun squad from friendly units, Sergeant Thomas attempted to re-establish contact with his company. As he was making his way through enemy lines, he was pinned down by hostile machine gun fire. Without thought for his personal safety and although he was alone, he threw a grenade at the enemy emplacement and assaulted the position with his bayonet. He was successful in destroying this strongpoint but was forced to withdraw when an enemy tank opened fire. As darkness set in, Sergeant Thomas retraced his steps through the enemy lines, by-passed the tank, established contact with his platoon and returned to the isolated squad with a supply of ammunition, rations, and water. He then continued to direct the defenses of his machine gun position and was successful in repelling all counterattacks. Entered military service from Arkansas. General Orders No. 57, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 18 December 1944 |
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Leonard G Thomas with daughter Patricia |
Christmas 1985 with a few of his grandkids and wife Sue |
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Leonard G Thomas |
Daughter Kathleen with her father and grandfather who was 106 years old when this picture was taken in 1982 |
Thanks to Leonard Thomas' daughter Kathleen Thomas Petross and his granddaughter Jackie Acker for these pictures
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134th Infantry Regiment & 35th Infantry Division Research Center Home Page |
