WW2 Fallen - B-25 pilot Auline Plumlee

Lt. Auline Plumlee was a B-25 pilot in the 321st Bombardment Group in North Africa.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155530998/eldon-a_-plumlee
https://www.ww2online.org/image/view-looking-over-unto-b-25-mitchell-bomber-flight-unknown-location-1943-or-1945

Eldon Auline Plumlee never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, I invite you to help write some!  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

He was born on February 29, 1920 in Texas. His parents Isaac and Zola were born in the Indian Territory and Texas, respectively. His father worked as an oil well tool dresser, a post office postmaster, and an oil field worker. Auline had an older sister, a younger brother, and a younger sister. By 1940 Auline had completed one year of college and was still living at home. He worked as a pipeline employee.

He entered the Army Air Forces in December 1941. He became a first lieutenant and a B-25 pilot in the 448th Bombardment Squadron, 321st Bombardment Group. The 321st BG arrived in Algeria in mid-March of 1943.

In April, the 321st BG's targets were mainly in North Africa to support the Allied effort to remove the Germans from Tunisia. 

On April 2, 1943 Lt. Plumlee was killed on what was only his sixth mission. It was probably a non-combat related death.

His grave is at Pioneer Cemetery in Eastland County, Texas.

Thank you Lt. Plumlee for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Auline.

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.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - B-24 engineer Arthur Martinez

Sgt. Arthur Martinez was a B-24 engineer in the 389th Bombardment Group.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66678593/arthur-s-martinez
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/389th_Strategic_Missile_Wing 

Arthur S. Martinez never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, I invite you to help write some!  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Albert was born on February 28, 1920 in Arizona. His parents Jim and Guadalupe were both born in Mexico. His father worked as a farm laborer. Arthur had one older brother and two younger brothers. Arthur completed one year of high school and worked as a sales clerk

He was drafted into the army in January 1943. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces and ended up as a sergeant and engineer for the 566th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group which was stationed in Norfolk, England and equipped with B-24 Liberators.

On April 5, 1945 Sgt. Martinez was on B-24 44-50747. The 389th BG was on a mission to hit the marshalling yards at Plauen, Germany. The plane was hit by AA fire from a German ship off the coast of Holland. It caused a fuel leak and the pilot radio he would attempt a landing. The plane crashed near Brouerhaven, Holland. All nine on board were killed.

His grave is at City of Mesa Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona.

Thank you Sgt. Martinez for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Arthur.

Last year on this date I profiled William Shanks, 30th Infantry Division. You can read about William 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.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - Chester Trawick, 29th Infantry Division

Sgt. Chester Trawick served in the 29th Infantry Division during the Battle of Brest.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91841472/chester-ray-trawick
https://echoesofawar.wordpress.com/tag/29th-infantry-division/ 

Chester Ray Trawick never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, I invite you to help write some!  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Chester was born on February 27, 1920 in Arkansas. His parents Elmer and Ida were born in Tennessee and Arkansas, respectively. I think his mother died in the 1920s, because his father was married to another woman in the 1930's census. His father worked as a farmer. Ray had one younger brother and four younger sisters. By 1940 Chester had completed one year of high school and he was still living at home.

He was drafted into the army in October 1941. He became a sergeant in the 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. Sgt. Trawick was not with the 29th ID when it landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. He did not get to Europe until August 1944.

By August, the 29th ID had fought its way out of Normandy and was sent west to participate in the assault on Brest. That assignment lasted from August 25 to September 18. Nearly 10,000 Americans were killed or wounded during these four weeks. Sgt. Trawick was killed in action on September 9, 1944 while the 116th IR was fighting near Kerguestoc.

His grave is at Holland Cemetery in Gravesville, Arkansas.

Thank you Sgt. Trawick for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Chester.

Last year on this date I profiled Bronze Star hero Emmett Alumbaugh, 104th Infantry Division. You can read about Emmett 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.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Fallen - Navy Nurse Margaret Gavin + Tony Randall

Ensign Margaret Gavin was a navy nurse killed on a R4D-5 that was involved in a midair collision.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159612473/margaret-patricia-gavin
https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/39986-keflavik-united-states-navy-for-vskylabs-dc3/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/435934438902039997/?lp=true 

Margaret Patricia Gavin never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, she sacrificed her life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, I invite you to help write some!  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Margaret was born on February 26, 1920 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her parents James and Lucile were also both born in Tennessee. Her father worked as a packing company bookkeeper, and later as a manager and office clerk for Standard Oil. Margaret had one older sister, five younger sisters, and one younger brother. By 1940 Margaret had completed four years of high school and was still living at home.

She enlisted in the US Navy and became an ensign and nurse assigned to a base in Florida(?).

Ensign Gavin was killed in a plane crash in Jacksonville, Florida on November 6, 1944. She was a passenger in a Douglas R4D-5 (DC-3) that collided in midair with a FG-1A Corsair. The planes crashed into the St. Johns River with no survivors. 

Her grave is at Calvary Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.

Thank you Ensign Gavin for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Margaret.

TONY RANDALL
The well known Broadway, movie, and TV actor Tony Randall was born on the same date at Margaret Gavin. He was born in Oklahoma.

Randall served four years in the US Army Signal Corps during World War 2.

http://exhibits.library.northwestern.edu/archives/exhibits/alumni/randall.html

Randall began his Broadway career in 1946. By the late 1950s he was appearing in movies in supporting roles. He is best known for staring in the TV comedy The Odd Couple. He died in 2004.

Last year on this date I profiled Kwajalein fallen Harold Fisher, 7th Infantry Division. You can read about Harold 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.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

WW2 Fallen - Silver Star and Bronze Star hero Marvin Gilbertson, 9th Infantry Division

Sgt. Marvin Gilbertson, 9th Infantry Division, was wounded at Cherbourg and earned both the Silver Star and Bronze Star.
 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94108728

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/americas-battle-for-cherbourg.html

 Marvin Lester Gilbertson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, I invite you to help write some!  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Marvin was born on February 25, 1920 in York, Wisconsin. His parents Tyler and Clara were also born in Wisconsin. His father worked as a farmer and passed away in 1936. Marvin had one older brother, two older sisters, four younger brothers, and three younger sisters. In 1940, Marvin was working as a hired hand on a farm in Moscow, Wisconsin.

Marvin was drafted into the US Army in January 1942 and upon completion of training he joined the 47th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division, and eventually rose to the rank of sergeant. In November 1942, the 47th IR took part in Operation Blackstone in North Africa, and fought in the battles of El Guettar and Sedjenane. The regiment next fought in Sicily during the Battle of Troina in August 1943. In November 1943, the 47th IR and the rest of the 9th Infantry Division moved to England to train for the invasion of Europe. 

The 9th ID landed at Utah Beach in Normandy on 10 June 1944, four days after D-Day, and was assigned to seal off the Cotentin peninsula to prevent additional German reinforcements from breaking through, and to capture the important port city of Cherbourg. After battling across the Cotentin peninsula, the 9th ID began the attack on Cherbourg on 22 June. It was a bloody and distressing business for the advancing American infantry engaged in bitter house to house combat. German machine gunners stationed in concrete bunkers inflicted heavy casualties on the Americans while remaining safe from small arms fire. The Americans had to take out these strongpoints one at a time, approaching in the open and under fire. Following the liberation of Cherbourg on 27 June 1944, the 47th fought the remaining German forces in Cap de la Hague, ultimately capturing over 6,000 Germans by 1 July. At some point, Sgt. Gilbertson was wounded during the capture of Cherbourg and spent some time recovering in a hospital in England. 

Sgt. Gilbertson returned to his unit in France in time for the regiments’ initial drive into Germany on 14 September 1944 near Roetgen, which was the first German city to fall to the Allies. The regiment then penetrated the Siegfried Line near Schevenhütte on 16 September 1944. Sgt. Gilbertson was a member of a machine gun unit and was killed in action in Germany 19 September 1944. His obituary states that he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star but I was unable to find a citation.

Marvin Lester Gilbertson is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville, Wisconsin. 

Thank you Sgt.Gilbertson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Marvin.

_____

This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them." 

Last year on this date I profiled Lt. William White of the USS Jacinto. You can read about William 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.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100

Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Tarawa and Saipan Fallen - William Jay & Gus Jay, 2nd Marine Division

Brothers William and Gus Jay both served in the 2nd Marine Division.
William was killed at Tarawa. Gus was killed at Saipan.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55038742/william-rufus-jay
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55079785

William Rufus Jay never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, I invite you to help write some!  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

He was born on February 24, 1920 in Arkansas. His parents Harry and Hallie were born in Arkansas and Kentucky, respectively. The family moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in the 1920s. Harry worked as a farmer and later as a packing plant foreman. Still later he worked in the pickle department in a meat packing company. William had two older brothers, one older sister, two younger brother, and four younger sisters. By 1940 Rufus had completed three years of high school and was still living at home.

William, along with his brother Gus, seven years his senior, both volunteered for the US Marine Corps on July 9, 1940. The both ended up in the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. William was a tech sergeant in Company H. Gus was a staff sergeant in Company F.

The 2nd Marine Regiment first saw action on Guadalcanal from August 1942 to January 1943. It was next sent to New Zealand for rest and refitting. 

The 2nd MD was part of the Battle of Tarawa. William Jay was killed on November 21, 1943, the second day of the battle. By that time the 2nd Battalion supplies of ammunition and food ere all but gone and casualties were so high that further offensive action was not possible. At one point the battalion commander reported that William's Company H was down to one machine-gun platoon and Gus's Company F had 10 men. Gus probably learned of his brothers death that day or soon after.

The 2nd MD was next assigned to the Battle of Saipan which began on June 15, 1944. Gus Jay's company came under Japanese tank attack throughout the night of June 16/17 and he may have been killed at that point, one of 19 casualties from Company F. One machine-gun alone went through an incredible 10,000 rounds defending against the unsuccessful Japanese attack.

Both men left widows. Gus's wife was named Hazel. William married Margaret Allen in New Zealand in July 1943 while the 2nd Marine Division was in training there. They had one son who never met William. 

The Jay brothers' graves are at Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Thank you William and Gus for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Jay brothers.

Last year on this date I profiled Saipan fallen Edward Buckshot, 2nd Marine Division. You can read about Edward 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.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Hurtgen Forest Fallen - John Hayes, 1st Infantry Division + brother Davison

Pvt. John Hayes served in the 1st Infantry Division.
His brother Davison, a Bronze Star recipient was a private in the 9th Infantry Division.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120470075/john-sherman-hayes
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56299605/davison-hayes 

John S. Hayes never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, I invite you to help write some!  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

He was born on February 23, 1920 in Arkansas. His parents Randall and Flora were born in Illinois and Missouri, respectively. I was not able to find census records on the Hayes family but it appears they were farmers. At some point he married Dorothy Toombs and they had one daughter.

He was drafted into the army and became a private in Company L, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. I am guessing he joined his unit as a replacement some time after D-Day.

John had a brother named Davison who served in the 9th Infantry Division. Davison was seriously wounded and captured by the Germans in September 1944 after his unit crossed the Meuse River. He died in a prisoner of war camp. His remains were never recovered and he is still listed as MIA. He was awarded the Bronze Star.

John was killed in action two months later on November 23, 1944. At that time the 1st ID was fighting in the Hurtgen Forest. The 26th IR was advancing through Gressenich Woods. The Germans were well prepared with cannons and mortars and the artillery observation posts to zero in the ordnance.

His grave is at New Hope Cemetery in Pollard, Arkansas. His widow remarried and died in 1996.

Thank you John and Davison for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for the Hayes brothers.

Last year on this date I profiled Marvin Fomby, 8th Infantry Division. You can read about Marvin 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.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 Guam Fallen - Medal of Honor hero Leonard Mason, 3rd Marine Division

PFC Leonard Mason earned the Medal of Honor while serving with the 3rd Marine Division in Guam in July 1944.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8212372/leonard-foster-mason
https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1944/guam-tinian/guam-gallery.html 

Leonard Forester Mason never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, I invite you to help write some!  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Leonard was born on February 22, 1920 in Kentucky. His parents Hillary and Molly were also both born in Kentucky. His father worked as a farmer and later as a laborer. Leonard had three older sisters, three younger brothers, and six younger sisters. At some point he married Donna Potts.

He enlisted in the US Marines in April 1942. He was sent to the South Pacific in October 1943. He became a private first class in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. The 3rd MD took part in the Battle of Bougainville beginning in November 1943.

The 3rd MD next saw action at the Battle of Guam when it made an amphibious landing on July 21, 1944. The next day PFC Mason singlehandedly charged and eliminated a threatening Japanese machine-gun position and was mortally wounded in the process.

His Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as an automatic rifleman serving with the 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands on 22 July 1944. 

Suddenly taken under fire by 2 enemy machineguns not more than 15 yards away while clearing out hostile positions holding up the advance of his platoon through a narrow gully, Pfc. Mason, alone and entirely on his own initiative, climbed out of the gully and moved parallel to it toward the rear of the enemy position. 

Although fired upon immediately by hostile riflemen from a higher position and wounded repeatedly in the arm and shoulder, Pfc. Mason grimly pressed forward and had just reached his objective when hit again by a burst of enemy machinegun fire, causing a critical wound to which he later succumbed. With valiant disregard for his own peril, he persevered, clearing out the hostile position, killing 5 Japanese, wounding another and then rejoining his platoon to report the results of his action before consenting to be evacuated. 

His exceptionally heroic act in the face of almost certain death enabled his platoon to accomplish its mission and reflects the highest credit upon Pfc. Mason and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

PFC Mason died aboard the hospital ship USS Elmore on July 23, 1944 from wounds sustained during the action that resulted in his Medal of Honor award.

The destroyer USS Leonard F. Mason was named in his honor in 1946.

His cenotaph memorial is at the Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial. His widow remarried and died in 1989.

Thank you PFC Mason for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Leonard.

Last year on this date I profiled Pearl Harbor fallen George Taber, USS West Virginia. You can read about George 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.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org

WW2 China Fallen - Linus Thomas, 51st Fighter Group

Staff Sergeant Linus Thomas served in the ground crew of the 25th Fighter Squadron in China.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108816084/linus-a_-thomas
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/482659285043409483/?lp=true

Linus Thomas never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

If you have enjoyed reading the stories of the WW2 fallen, I invite you to help write some!  Announcing "The Stories Behind the Stars", see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org This crowd-sourced national project has the goal of compiling stories of all 400,000+ of the US World War 2 fallen in one free-to-access central database.  Anyone visiting a war memorial or gravesite will be able to scan the name of the fallen with a smartphone and his story will appear on the phone.

Linus was born on February 21, 1920 in McComb, Mississippi. His parents Willie and Eunice were born in Louisiana and Mississippi, respectively. His father worked as a railroad boilermaker. It appears that his parents divorced in the 1920s. Linus stayed with him mother who remarried. Linus had one older brother and one younger half-brother, and three younger half-sisters. By 1940 Linus had completed eight years of schooling and was working as a truck driver while still living at home.

He was drafted into the army in November 1941. He became a staff sergeant in the 25th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, were he served in the ground crew. He was sent overseas in May 1943. The 25th FS operated out of China in the Kunming area.

Sgt. Thomas was injured when he was struck by the wing of a plane making an emergency landing. He died in hospital in Paoshan, China on January 18, 1945.

His grave is at Hollywood Cemetery in McComb, Mississippi.

Thank you Sgt. Thomas for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Linus.

Last year on this date I profiled Medal of Honor hero Joe Nishimoto, 442nd Infantry Regiment. You can read about Joe 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.

Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100

WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by

The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation

“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”

http://www.tggf.org