Grave marker for 1st Lt. Vernon Thomas at Section M, Site 47, Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas

(Photo courtesy Bill Myers)

Vernon Thomas, a native of Louisiana, enlisted in the Army on October 29, 1942 in Ft Rosecrans, San Diego county, California.

He quickly volunteered for parachutist duty and after completing the requisite 5 jumps from an aircraft in flight, Vernon was debarred as a qualified parachutist on January 5, 1943, He was assigned to Company F, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment

He rose quickly in rank, a year after earning his parachutist badge he was appointed to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

His leadership skills were noted and in August 1944 he was discharged to accept a commission as a Second Lieutenant. As was traditional for a newly commissioned officer, he was transferred to a different element of the regiment - Company H.

Vernon continued to advance quickly. By December 1944 when the 508th was engaged in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, he had attained the rank of First Lieutenant and was acting as a Platoon Leader.

1st Lt Vernon Thomas was initially listed as MIA (mussing in action) on December 24 1944.

On January 16, 1845 that status was changed to read as KIA (killed in action) on January 12, 1945.

It was not until March 1945 that investigation into the circumstance of his death enabled pinpointing December 25 1944 as having been the actual date of his death.

Lieutenant Thomas' decorations include the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.