William G. Thrash
William G. Thrash | |
---|---|
United States of America | |
Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | July 14, 1939 – June 30, 1972 |
Rank | Lieutenant general |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
Awards | Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart |
Other work | GT Construction, President[1] |
William Gay Thrash (September 17, 1916 – July 4, 2011) was a
Thrash earned the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit during the Korean War, and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct as senior United Nations officer in a Chinese Communist prisoner of war camp.
Biography
Early years
William Gay Thrash was born in
Thrash was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on July 14, 1939. He was assigned to
World War II
Promoted to first lieutenant in January 1942, Thrash received his wings as a Naval Aviator on March 18 of the same year. He was promoted to captain that May, then remained at Pensacola until September 1942 as an instructor. Thrash joined the
In August 1948, he entered the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduation from its logistics course in May 1949, he was assigned as an instructor in the Aviation Section, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia.
1950s
Transferred to the
While serving as tactical officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12, Thrash was engaged in a reconnaissance flight over enemy anti-aircraft positions in Korea on December 21, 1951. When his plane was struck by enemy fire, he parachuted after radioing his base that he was bailing out. Taken prisoner after landing in the heavily fortified enemy area, he remained a prisoner for almost two years.
Thrash was awarded his first
In July 1959, Colonel Thrash reported to the Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, as commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 13. During this assignment, he led a trans-Pacific flight of Marine light attack jet aircraft in a record-making first flight from Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, to Naval Air Station Alameda, California.
1960s
In August 1960, he was named chief of staff of the 1st Marine Brigade at Kaneohe. He served in this capacity until May 1962, when he was deployed to
In March 1964, he was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as legislative assistant to the
Vietnam War
Major General Thrash was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in July 1969, for a one-year tour of duty as commanding general, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in the I Corps Tactical Zone, and earned the Distinguished Service Medal for his outstanding performance of duty during this tour.
1970s
Upon his return to the United States in July 1970, he reported to the Marine Corps Base, Quantico, for duty as deputy for education/director, Education Center, Marine Corps Development and Education Command. MajGen Thrash was nominated for promotion to three-star rank, and his nomination was approved by President
Later years and death
LtGen Thrash and his wife, the former Virginia Merryman of Atlanta, Georgia, had two sons, William Gay Jr., and Ralph Merryman Thrash, both Marine Corps officers. LtGen and Mrs. Thrash resided in Newport Beach, California, then later in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He was also active in the Marine Corps Oral History Program and received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Paul X. Kelley in June 1986.[2]
Thrash died on July 4, 2011, at the Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.[3]
Awards and medals
Naval Aviator Badge | ||||
1st Row | award star
|
Silver Star | Distinguished Flying Cross | valor device
|
---|---|---|---|---|
2nd Row | Purple Heart | Air Medal w/ 6 award stars | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal | Navy Presidential Unit Citation |
3rd Row | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal | American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 1 service star
|
4th Row | World War II Victory Medal
|
Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ Asia clasp | National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star | Korean Service Medal w/ 2 service stars |
5th Row | Vietnam Service Medal w/ 1 service star | Korean Presidential Unit Citation
|
United Nations Korea Medal
|
Vietnam Campaign Medal |
Notes
- ^ Joseph P. Byrd III. "A Senator and Medal-Winning Servicemen". Fortunes of War. Georgia Tech Alumni Association. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^ "Fortitudine 16, Part 1 - Eleven Distinguished Marines Speak for the Record, pages 27-28" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- ^ "William Thrash Obituary (2011) - Bluffton, SC - the Island Packet". Legacy.com.
References
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- "Official Biography for William G. Thrash". HQMC, United States Marine Corps. July 2002. Archived from the originalon 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2009-02-18.