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name
THOMAS, Richard Hopkins "Red" - Date of
birth
25 July 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Indiana -
Hometown
Vermillion County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
15335096 -
Rank
Private -
Function
Telephone Switchboard Operator -
Unit
HQ Company,
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
82nd Airborne Division,
Communications Platoon
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
2 October 1944 - Place of
death
Wylerbaan, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 5 | 11 |
Immediate family
-
Members
George H. Thomas (father)
Ida J. Thomas (mother)
Pearl M. Thomas (sister)
Therisa Thomas (sister)
Wanda M. Thomas (sister)
Bevealee Thomas (sister)
More information
Pvt Richard H. Thomas enlisted at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana on 5 november 1942.He was killed in action together with three other men of his unit. They were killed by a tree burst from German artillery fire.
Pvt Thomas was initially buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Molenhoek, the Netherlands on 2 October 1944. On 14 September 1948, his remains were moved to Margraten Cemetery.
Source of information: www.marketgarden.com, www.ancestry.com
Photo source: John West, Ralph Peeters, www.specialforcesroh.com