Tharp, Blucher S.

Date of birth:: May 9th, 1892 (Springdale/Kansas, United States)
Date of death:: November 12th, 1954
Nationality:: American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

Promotions:
?: Regimental Sergeant Major;
June 1st, 1918: 2nd Lieutenant;
?: Lieutenant colonel;
?: Colonel.

Career:
July 2nd, 1916: Troop B, 1st Texas Cavalry;
?: Battery B, 131st Field Artillery Regiment, 36th Infantry Division;
?: 3rd Officer Training Course, Camp Bowie;
January 9th, 1919: honorable discharge;
February 1st, 1924: 131st Field Artillery Regiment;
August 12th, 1940: Commander, 1st Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment;
1941: Commander, 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment;
1947: Retirement.

By the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Tharp and his 2nd Battalion eventually fond themselves on Java, Dutch East Indies, where the complete battalion became Japanese POW. The unit stayed POW during the entire war, earning the nickname "Lost Battalion". During imprisonment, Tharp was promoted Colonel. Of the 800 men of the battalion, only 300 survived the war.
Besides his personal decorations, Thrap was entitled to wear the Presidential Unit Citation with three bronze clusters..