James Thomas transcript

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 2004 Box 6 (04.0184-04.0216), Folder: 04.0209 - Folder 1

Identifier: 04.0209

Staff Only

Content Description

This collection relates to James Thomas who served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. This collection contains an oral history transcript where Thomas recounts his experiences training with the 10th Mountain Division, and later combat and living conditions in Bougainville and the Philippines.

Dates

November 19, 2003
Event: 1943-1945

Creator

Sellers, Robin (Interviewer, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical / Historical

James Thomas was born on July 29, 1924 in Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania. In 1942 Thomas graduated from Mt. Carmel High School and worked as an apprentice machinist in Philadelphia until he was drafted in 1943. Thomas initially trained with the 10th Mountain Division for cold weather fighting. After six months, Thomas was transferred to infantry and was assigned in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Thomas served in combat in Bougainville and the invasion of the Philippine Islands on Cebu Island. He was the recipient of two Purple Hearts. Following his military service, he worked for Nationawide Insurance as director of Human Resources. James Thomas and his wife Shirley M. Hildenbrand Thomas had three children together, Lee Ann Ned, Cathy Ferrell, and Craig Thomas. James Thomas passed away on August 14, 2014 at the age of 90. He is buried at Blendon Central Cemetery in Westerville, Ohio.