Thomas A. Wornham
Thomas Andrews Wornham | |
---|---|
1st Marine Regiment | |
Battles/wars | Yangtze Patrol Haitian Campaign World War II |
Awards | Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Navy Commendation Medal |
Thomas Andrews Wornham (December 12, 1903 – December 17, 1984) was a highly decorated officer of the
Early career
Thomas A. Wornham was born on December 12, 1903, in Rensselaer, New York. After the graduation from the high school, he attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and graduated with the rank of second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on June 3, 1926. Many of his classmates were later promoted to the general officer ranks: Arthur H. Butler, Russell N. Jordahl, Nels H. Nelson, Elmer H. Salzman, Edward W. Snedeker, Roy M. Gulick, Kenneth W. Benner, Hartnoll J. Withers, James S. Russell, Laurence H. Frost, C. Wade McClusky, Robert B. Pirie, Charles L. Carpenter, Tom Hamilton or Henry C. Bruton.[1]
Wornham was subsequently transferred to the Marine barracks within
He was ordered for his first expeditionary duty in April 1927, when he was assigned to the Marine Barracks Shanghai, China. After his return to the United States, Wornham was assigned to the Marine detachment within summer camp of President Calvin Coolidge in Criglersville, Virginia, in November 1929. After five months of service there, he was assigned to the 1st Brigade of Marines and sailed for Haiti in March 1930. While served there, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in March 1932.
Wornham returned to the United States in June 1933 and later attended
World War II
Captain Wornham was subsequently assigned to the Marine detachment aboard the light cruiser USS Helena and participated in the patrol voyage in the Caribbean. He was promoted to the rank of major in May 1941 and transferred to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., where he served in the Personnel Division under Brigadier General Littleton W. T. Waller Jr. command. During his time at Headquarters Marine Corps, Wornham was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in August 1942 and later decorated with the Navy Commendation Medal for his distinguished service there.[2]
He served in this capacity until January 1944, when he was transferred to the
On 19 February 1945, Colonel Wornham landed with the first waves of his regiment on Iwo Jima. He personally participated in the reconnaissance of the terrain under heavy mortar and small-arms fire and when one of his battalion was halted by enemy's fire, Wornham rallied his men to renew the attack and inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese. For his gallantry in action, he was decorated with the Navy Cross.[4]
Later career
Following the Japanese surrender in August 1945, Wornham commanded his regiment during the occupation duties in Japan until he was ordered back to the United States in December 1945. For his service in Japan, Wornham received the Bronze Star Medal. He was subsequently assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Personnel in Washington, D.C., as Marine Corps liaison officer.[2]
Wornham served in this capacity only until September 1947, when he was assigned to the
During the Korean War, Wornham was transferred to the
Colonel Wornham returned to Washington, D.C., in February 1952 and was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as assistant chief of staff for operations and training. While serving in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in July 1952.
Wornham was promoted to the rank of
Major General Wornham almost immediately returned to the United States and was appointed commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. His new task was to train new recruits, which were subsequently assigned to other Marine units.[5]
His final assignment came in October 1959, when he was appointed commanding general of the
For his distinguished service in this capacity, he was decorated with the
Wornham was relieved by Lieutenant General Alan Shapley on March 31, 1961, and subsequently retired from the Marine Corps the following day.
Life in retirement
Wornham retired with his wife to San Diego and was appointed to the San Diego Harbor Commission in early 1962. His task was to control and disposition of 1,800 acres of tidelands. He was appointed general manager of the Tri-Hospital Building Fund, the multimillion-dollar drive to provide funds for the expansion of Mercy, Sharp and Scripps hospitals.[6]
Wornham died on December 17, 1984, and his ashes were scattered at sea on his own request. He was survived by his wife Laura Wornham and his son Thomas V. A. Wornham.[6][3]
Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General Thomas A. Wornham:[4]
1st row | Navy Cross | |||||||||||||||
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2nd row | Navy Distinguished Service Medal
|
Combat "V"
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Bronze Star Medal | Navy Commendation Medal | ||||||||||||
3rd row | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one star | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with one star | Yangtze Service Medal | American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp | ||||||||||||
4th row | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one 3/16 inch service star
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World War II Victory Medal
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Navy Occupation Service Medal | ||||||||||||
5th row | National Defense Service Medal with service star | Korean Service Medal with two 3/16 inch service stars | United Nations Korea Medal
|
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
|
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Colonel Thomas Andrews Wornham (MCSN: 0-4079), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 February to 27 March 1945. Landing with the assault waves on extremely difficult fire-swept beaches, Colonel Wornham led his combat team through heavy hostile fire to establish the initial beachhead in his sector. Serving gallantly throughout this entire operation, he made continuous reconnaissance of the terrain in his zone of action and exposed himself to heavy fire in front-line positions to encourage his men. Passing through an area infested with snipers on 12 March, he went to one of his battalions held up by strong enemy resistance and, despite intense mortar and small-arms fire, rallied his men to renew the attack and advance the front lines while inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese. His indomitable fighting spirit, aggressive leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[7]
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- ^ "Lucky Bag – USNA Class of 1926". United States Naval Academy. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
- ^ a b c "Marines Together We Served". marines.togetherweserved.com. Marines Together We Served Websites. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Fortitudine 14, Part 4" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Valor awards for Thomas A. Wornham". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ "New York Times". New York Times Websites. 23 December 1984. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Find a Grave Memorial". findagrave.com. Find a Grave Memorial Websites. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- Military Times.