Sgt Herbert J. Thomas, Jr.
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 3rd Marine Division Medal of Honor on Bougainville
Background
Herbert Joseph Thomas, Jr. was born February 8, 1918 to parents Herbert Joseph Thomas and Ida B. Thomas (née Smallwood) in Columbus, Ohio. At age seven, his family moved to childhood in South Charleston, West Virginia. After graduating high school, he enrolled in Virgina Tech class of 1940 on a football scholarship joined the Corps of Cadets. In his senior year, he led his team in pass receptions and scoring, and all Virginian college players in scoring and was named in the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
Wartime History
 In July 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet with serial number 15069103. Later, he transfered to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR) because many of his friends had joined the Marines. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. On November 1, 1943 he was among the Marines that landed at Cape Torokina on western Bougainville.
On November 7, 1943 during the Battle of Koromokina River, Thomas led his squad through the jungle under enemy machine gun fire. and pressed into the center of the Japanese position and eliminated the crews of two machine guns with accurate rifle fire and grenades. Spotting a third machine gun, he positioned his squad and ordered them to attack. At the start of their assault, he threw a grenade that accidentally bounced back off vines and landed among his men. Without time to throw it back towards the enemy, Thomas hurled himself onto the grenade and died in the blast, saving the lives of his squad who assaulted and destroyed the third machine gun. For his actions, he later earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously.
Medal of Honor citation November 7, 1943, posthumously
 Citation: "For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle at the Koromokina River, Bougainville Islands, Solomon Islands, on 7 November 1943. Although several of his men were struck by enemy bullets as he led his squad through dense jungle undergrowth in the face of severe hostile machinegun fire, Sgt. Thomas and his group fearlessly pressed forward into the center of the Japanese position and destroyed the crews of two machine guns by accurate rifle fire and grenades. Discovering a third gun more difficult to approach, he carefully placed his men closely around him in strategic positions from which they were to charge after he had thrown a grenade into the emplacement. When the grenade struck vines and fell back into the midst of the group, Sgt. Thomas deliberately flung himself upon it to smother the explosion, valiantly sacrificing his life for his comrades. Inspired by his selfless action, his men unhesitatingly charged the enemy machine gun and, with fierce determination, killed the crew and several other nearby-defenders. The splendid initiative and extremely heroic conduct of Sgt. Thomas in carrying out his prompt decision with full knowledge of his fate reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country." |
Awards
Thomas earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously and was the first resident of West Virginia to earn the nation's highest military award for valor during World War II. His father, Herbert Joseph Thomas was presented with his Medal of Honor by the Secretary of the Navy, James V. Forrestal at a ceremony in Washington, DC. Also in attendance was Lt. General Alexander A. Vandegrift, USMC Commandant.
Thomas also earned the Navy Cross, Purple Heart, posthumously, Presidential Unit Citation and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. He
On March 26, 1945, the destroyer U.S.S. Herbert J. Thomas was named in his honor sponsored by his sister Audrey. In his hometown of South Charleston, West Virginia the Thomas Memorial Hospital that opened December 9, 1946 was named in his honor.
Memorials
Thomas was officially declared dead November 7, 1943. Postwar, his remains were transported to the United States for permenant burial. He is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in South Charleston, WV at section H, lot 342 with two flat grave stones and a large standing brown stone grave.
References
NARA - World War II Army Enlistment Records - Herbert J. Thomas
USMC Historical Monograph Bougainville and the Northern Solomons Chapter 2 Establishing Bougainville Beachhead pages 43 (November 7, 1943), 44 (photo), 45 (map)
FindAGrave - Herbert Joseph Thomas (photo, grave photos)
Congressional Medal of Honor Society - Herbert Joseph Thomas (photo, citation)
West Virgina Division of Culture and History - Herbert Thomas via Wayback Machine August 5, 2012
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