Gerald C. Thomas
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Gerald C. Thomas | |
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1st Marine Division (1952–1954)Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Marine Corps Schools, Quantico | |
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Gerald Carthrae Thomas (October 29, 1894 – April 7, 1984) was a United States Marine Corps general who served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1956 with more than 38 years of distinguished service which included duty on four continents, spanning the two World Wars, Haiti, and the Korean War. During World War I, he fought in major offensives, including the Battle of Belleau Wood, and was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
Biography
Gerald Carthrae Thomas was born on October 29, 1894, in Slater, Missouri.
Thomas was attending Illinois Wesleyan University at the start of World War I. When the U.S. entered the war and a call was made for men, Gerald, then a sophomore,[1] enlisted for military service. He was awarded a degree of Doctor of Laws by his alma mater on February 10, 1954.
Marine Corps service
Gerald enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 28, 1917. He completed boot camp at
World War I
Sailing for France in September 1917, Thomas saw action with the 6th Marines at Belleau Wood, Soissons, and in the Meuse–Argonne offensive (Champagne). He was promoted to sergeant and served as an intelligence sergeant. During the Battle of Belleau Wood, he led a squad of Marines and received the Silver Star for bravery.[2] At Soissons, his company sustained heavy losses and he became the acting platoon leader. In September 1918, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. During his World War I service, in addition to the award of the Silver Star for valor, he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in battle, and as a member of the 6th Marine Regiment, he became entitled to wear the French Fourragere. After participating in the occupation of Germany, he returned to the United States in July 1919.
Occupation of Haiti
In November 1919, he joined the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in Haiti, taking part in action against Haitian insurgent forces until May 1921. During this time, he participated in the Battle of Port-au-Prince, where he successfully ambushed a column of Caco rebels.[3] In August 1921, he was assigned to the Marine barracks at Quantico, where he remained for the next two years. During that time he was detached for several months of duty with the guard company at the Disarmament Conference in Washington. He also completed the Company Officers Course at the Marine Corps Schools.
1920s–1930s
From November 1923 to October 1925, Thomas commanded the
Graduating in June 1932, Thomas was made an instructor in
World War II
In May 1941, Thomas was transferred to
In July 1947, Thomas was named commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Western Pacific. After that unit was disbanded in March 1949, he became chief of staff of the Marine Corps Equipment Board at Quantico, later serving there as commanding general of the Landing Force Development Center.
Korean War
Thomas took command of the 1st Marine Division during the
Retirement and death
He retired from the Marine Corps and was promoted to the rank of general on January 1, 1956.
From 1957 to 1958, he was the first director of the National Security Council (NSC) Net Evaluation Subcommittee (NESC); succeeded by Thomas Hickey.[4]
Thomas died on April 7, 1984, at his Washington, D.C. home. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Awards and decorations
General Thomas' medals and decorations include:
1st Row | Distinguished Service Cross | Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Silver Star | French Fourragère |
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2nd Row | valor device
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Purple Heart | Air Medal w/ 2 award stars | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal | |
3rd Row | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 service star | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal | World War I Victory Medal w/ 5 clasps | |
4th Row | Army of Occupation of Germany Medal | China Service Medal | American Defense Service Medal w/ Base clasp | American Campaign Medal | |
5th Row | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 2 service stars
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World War II Victory Medal
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National Defense Service Medal | Korean Service Medal w/ 1 service star | |
6th Row | Order of Orange-Nassau, Commander w/ crossed swords | Order of National Security Merit, Gugseon Medal
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Korean Presidential Unit Citation
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United Nations Korea Medal
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See also
Notes
- ^ Sausoman, "Legendary Marine: General Gerald C. Thomas".
- ISBN 978-0-684-87284-1. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
- ^ "In Many a Strife: General Gerald C. Thomas and the U.S. Marine Corps, 1917-1956" by Allan R. Millett chapter VIII.
- ^ National Security Archive (Internet), 22 July 2014
References
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2009) |
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- "General Gerald C. Thomas, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
- "Gerald Carthrae Thomas, General, United States Marine Corps". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- Sausoman, Jim. "Legendary Marine: General Gerald C. Thomas". Gunny's Corner. Marine Corps League, Eugene S. Sara Detachment. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
Further reading
- JSTOR 2944113.
- "Interview with E. Simons, author of Through The Wheat: The U.S. Marines in World War I by BG Edwin Simmons (USMC-Ret.) and Col. Joseph Alexander (USMC-Ret.)". U.S. Naval Institute. April 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
Some of the Corps' most legendary NCOs stood to the fore in this desperate fighting, men like Dan Daly, Louis Cukela, Gerald Thomas, Charlie Dunbeck, and James Gallivan.