Fred Eugene Thomas

Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 432602

Born

July 6, 1920
in Orangeville, PA

Parents

Harlan Levi Thomas
Mamie (Wenner) Thomas (d. 1925)
Stepmother, Patti (VanHorn) Thomas

School

Orangeville Vocational School (1938)

Pre-War Employment

North American Refractories Company

Entered Service

July 23, 1942
at Pittsburgh, PA

Joined First Battalion

November 20, 1942
from HQ Company, Parris Island

Left First Battalion

March 8, 1945
Killed in action at Iwo Jima

Left Service

March 8, 1945
Killed in action

Home Address and Next of Kin

Bailey Road, Curwensville, PA – address of wife, Mrs. Norma Arreta (Wingert) Thomas, and son Eugene
Married 13 January 1943 in Wilson, NC

Service & Campaigns

Before joining battalion

Boot camp at Parris Island with 10th Recruit Battalion. Outposted to Recruit Depot Headquarters for duty as drill instructor. Transferred to New River, North Carolina; joined Able Company, First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) on 20 November 1942.

Roi-Namur

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 653 (Squad/Team Leader)

Campaign Narrative

Saipan

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Corporal
MOS: 653 (Squad/Team Leader)
Important Events:
June 16, 1944 – wounded in action (gunshot, right forearm & shoulder); evacuated to USS Pierce. Transferred to USS Relief.
July 14, 1944 – admitted to US Naval Hospital #128 Pearl Harbor

Campaign Narrative

Tinian – not present

Did not participate in Tinian campaign due to wounds. Undergoing treatment at US Naval Hospital #128. Rejoined Able Company, 24th Marines at Camp Maui on 22 August 1944.

Iwo Jima

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Sergeant
MOS: 737 (Rifle NCO)
Important Events:
February 23, 1945 – wounded in action (cause unknown, slight); evacuated to field hospital
February 25, 1945 – returned to duty
March 7, 1945 – wounded in action (cause unknown, fatal); evacuated to field hospital
March 8, 1945 – died of wounds received in action. Buried in Plot 1, Row 24, Grave 1198, Fourth Marine Division Cemetery.

Campaign Narrative

Individual Decorations

Medal
Purple Heart
– with Gold Star
– with second Gold Star

Campaign
Saipan (June 16, 1944)
Iwo Jima (February 23, 1945)
Iwo Jima (March 8, 1945)

Citation

Fred is buried in St. James United Church of Christ Cemetery, Bendertown, Pennsylvania

The first night of the first day on Saipan, I was maneuvering my squad in a position for the night. It was terribly hot and we had to move fast. It was quite dark, too dark, as a matter of fact, to move. However, orders came through to move, so move we did. That is when I walked into a large nest of Japs. One got me through the shoulder very nicely. Of course, they are now all with their ancestors, and I am living a lazy life here in the hospital.

Fred E. Thomas A/1/24th Marines