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| PFC Thomas Psar served with the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy and Holland. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/180229932/thomas-g-psar https://picclick.com/101st-Airborne-Division-Paratroopers-in-Elst-Holland-Post-173225833159.html |
Thomas G. Psar never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on May 23, 1919 in Pennsylvania. His parents George and Anna were born in Austria and Pennsylvania, respectively. His father died in 1927. Thomas had three older brothers, an older sister, a younger sister, and a younger brother. By 1940 Thomas had completed eight years of education and worked as a laborer for the Sandy Run Miners and Producers Company while living with his widowed mother.
He was drafted into the army in May 1941 and first served in the Signal Corps. In 1942 he volunteered for paratrooper training, perhaps attracted by the higher pay he could send home. He became a private first class in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He arrived in England in August 1943.
PFC Psar took part in the D-Day airdrop into Normandy. He was wounded during the Normandy campaign but recovered in time for the 101st next assignment - an airdrop into Holland on September 17, 1944 as part of Operation Market Garden. The 101st was tasked with taking five bridges. They managed to take four but the Germans destroyed the fifth. The Allies also failed to take the final bridge at Arnhem and the 101st spent weeks consolidating the Allied position in Holland.
By November 2, 1944 action had pretty much ended in the sector held by Company F. However, PFC Psar was part of a 22 man patrol that night sent to clear an enemy position across a railroad embankment and to bring back prisoners. PFC Psar was one of two men killed on that patrol.
His grave is at St. John's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Freeland, Pennsylvania.
Last year on this date I profiled B-24 engineer Raymond Ranville. You can read about Raymond here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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