Thomas, Evert Spencer, Jr.
- Date of birth:
- November 18th, 1908 (Fort Adams-Newport/Rhode Island, United States)
- Date of death:
- December 13th, 1991 (Winter Park/Florida, United States)
- Nationality:
- American
Biography
Servicenumber 030107.
Evert Spencer Thomas Jr. enlisted on January 12th, 1925.He died on December 13th, 1991 and was buried in Florida. On May 6th, 1994 he was reburied at Arlington National Cemetery.
Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!
Expert Infantryman Badge
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Major
- Awarded on:
- April 15th, 1944
General Orders No. 1, Headquarters School Troops Brigade, The Infantry School (15 April 1944).
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Major
- Unit:
- 66th Infantry Regiment, 71st Infantry Division, U.S. Army
- Awarded on:
- March 19th, 1945
"By having attained requiered standards of proficiency and by exemplery performance of duty in ground combat against the enemy."
General Orders Nr. 3, HQ 66th Infantry (19 March 1945).
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Unit:
- 1st Battalion, 66th Infantry Regiment, 71st Infantry Division, U.S. Army
- Awarded on:
- August 21st, 1945
Synopsis:
"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in Austria. On 2nd May 1945 Colonel Thomas' Battalion was given the mission of capturing intact a dam situated on the Inn River near Obernberg, Austria. To prevent the enemy from destroying the dam before his men could secure it, he ran forward across heavily mined fields and braving intense hostile machine gun and small arms fire, located and cut the wires leading to electrical charges with which the enemy intended to demolish the dam. He then returned to his unit and fearlessly led his men in a successful attack on the vital installation. Colonel Thomas' courageous actions and unswerving devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service."
Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 221 (1945).
"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in Austria. On 2nd May 1945 Colonel Thomas' Battalion was given the mission of capturing intact a dam situated on the Inn River near Obernberg, Austria. To prevent the enemy from destroying the dam before his men could secure it, he ran forward across heavily mined fields and braving intense hostile machine gun and small arms fire, located and cut the wires leading to electrical charges with which the enemy intended to demolish the dam. He then returned to his unit and fearlessly led his men in a successful attack on the vital installation. Colonel Thomas' courageous actions and unswerving devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service."
Headquarters, Third U.S. Army, General Orders No. 221 (1945).
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Unit:
- 1st Battalion, 66th Infantry Regiment, 71st Infantry Division, U.S. Army
- Awarded on:
- 1945
Citation:
"For gallantry in action against the enemy on 1 May 1945, in the vicinity of Prunn, Germany. When the advance of COmpany "A", 1st Battalion was hel up by intense machine gun and small arms fire, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas rushed to the front of the company encouraging the men to follow him. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas fired his pistol at the enemy as he advanced. When his ammunistion supply became exhausted, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas ran to the position of a wounded man, seized his rifle and continued to advance. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas' extreme courage so inspired the company that they charged the enemy positions, killing fourty-seven Germans, wounding eleven, and capturing one hundred ninety-six others. Lieutenant Colonel had sparked and led the company in an attack which overwhelmed the enemy, seizing intact their ojective, a bridge across the Alt Vile River, and capturing the commanding terrain which dominated the area."
HQ, 71st Infantry Division, G.O. No. 71 (1945).
"For gallantry in action against the enemy on 1 May 1945, in the vicinity of Prunn, Germany. When the advance of COmpany "A", 1st Battalion was hel up by intense machine gun and small arms fire, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas rushed to the front of the company encouraging the men to follow him. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas fired his pistol at the enemy as he advanced. When his ammunistion supply became exhausted, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas ran to the position of a wounded man, seized his rifle and continued to advance. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas' extreme courage so inspired the company that they charged the enemy positions, killing fourty-seven Germans, wounding eleven, and capturing one hundred ninety-six others. Lieutenant Colonel had sparked and led the company in an attack which overwhelmed the enemy, seizing intact their ojective, a bridge across the Alt Vile River, and capturing the commanding terrain which dominated the area."
HQ, 71st Infantry Division, G.O. No. 71 (1945).
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Unit:
- 1st Battalion, 66th Infantry Regiment, 71st Infantry Division, U.S. Army
Received with "V" for "Valor".
Znak "Gvardia"
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Unit:
- 1st Battalion, 66th Infantry Regiment, 71st Infantry Division, U.S. Army
- Awarded on:
- May 18th, 1945
"For active participation in the destruction of the German invaders and great help rendered at the moment of the link-up of the Russian and American troops, for saving captured Russian officers and soldiers, and for the help rendered to them. As a sign of gratitude, the command of the 5th Guards Division awards Lieutenant Colonel Thomas, the commander of the , with the Guards Badge."
Commander of the 5th Guards Zvenigorod Red Banner Order of Suvorov Airborne Division, Guards Major General (signature) /Afonin/18 May 1945.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Received with clasps "RIFLE", "PISTOL", "GRENADE", "BAYONET", "CARBINE", "SUB-MACHINE GUN" and "MACHINE GUN".
Sources
- Photo 1: Evert S. Thomas, III
- - Home of Heroes
- Service Record
- Citation Silver Star
- U.S. Army Register, Volume I, United States Army Active and Retired List, 1 January 1960
Photo
Looking for reliable information or news facts about WW2? Do you want to create your own battlefield tour to sights of wars from the past? Or are you interested in war medals and their recipients? TracesOfWar.com tells you more!
More information
© STIWOT, 1999-2024. All rights reserved. Privacy statement, cookies, disclaimer and copyright