IowaJones/Military/WWII/Casualties/Pvt. Francis H. Thomas

Pvt. Francis H. Thomas

April 30, 1925–April 8, 1945

Service #: 37773422
Residence: Jones, Iowa
Education: Grammar school
Occupation: General farmers
Marital Status: Single, no dependents
Enlistment Date: August 31, 1944
Enlistment Place: Fort Snelling, Minnesota
Service/Unit: 255th Infantry
Awards: Sharpshooter Medal, Purple Heart
Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Monticello, Iowa

Francis Thomas Killed in Germany

Mr. and Mrs. Olin Thomas of Morley received word this week that their youngest of four sons in overseas service, Pvt. Francis H. Thomas, was killed in action April 8, 1945.

Pvt. Thomas entered the service in August, 1944, serving in this country, England, France and Germany. He had been with General Patch's Seventh Army in Germany for three weeks before he met his death. Pvt. Thomas was home last on a 10-day furlough in January of this year.

Mrs. Thomas received two telegrams the same day, one in the morning which informed her that Francis had been seriously injured, and another in the afternoon, telling her of his death.

Pvt. Francis H. Thomas was born April 30, 1925. He was 18 years, 11 months and 7 days old at the time of his death. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Olin Thomas; three sisters, Mrs. Menno Otten and Mrs. W. G. Brown of Anamosa, and Maxine at home; five brothers, T/5 Roland E. Thomas, England; Cpl. Everett L. Thomas, Philippines; Cpl. Owen E. Thomas, Hawaiian Islands; Leland and Ernest at home, and a host of relatives and friends.

Source: The Anamosa Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa, April 26, 1945

Services Sunday

Pvt. Francis Thomas

Memorial services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the St. Paul's American Lutheran church in Anamosa for Pvt. Francis H. Thomas, who died of wounds received in Germany on April 8, 1945. Pvt. Thomas is the youngest of four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Olin Thomas of Morley, who served in the army.

Francis Thomas was born April 30, 1926, near Hopkinton. He attended the Hopkinton school and later assisted his father and his brother-in-law, Menno Otten, in farming and also worked on farms around Anamosa. His parents moved to Anamosa two years ago and later to Martelle and now reside in Morley. He entered service in August, 1944, and received his training a Camp Walters, Texas. He was home on a 10-day furlough in January, 1945, and upon his return was sent overseas following his four months of training. He served in England and France and then in Germany, where he died April 8, 1945, three weeks after his arrival.

Pvt. Thomas had been awarded the Sharpshooter Medal, including carbine and pistol, and the Purple Heart which his parents received two weeks ago.

Francis was well liked and respected by all who knew him. He was a willing worker and ready to help out in any way he could.

He is survived by his parents of Morley, three sisters, Mrs. Menno Otten and Mrs. W. G. Brown of Anamosa, Maxine at home; five brothers, Cpl. Roland E., in England, Cpl. Everett L., in the Philippines,. Cpl. Owen, now transferred to the Pacific area and Leland and Ernest at home. Many relatives and friends also survive. As soon as possible the body will be brought home for burial in Oakwood cemetery at Monticello.

Source: The Anamosa Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa, June 21, 1945

Soldier of Morley Re-buried Sunday In Military Rites

MORLEY—Body of Pvt. Francis H. Thomas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Olin Thomas Thomas Thomas, Morley, will arrive in Anamosa next Saturday, July 24. Pvt. Thomas was killed in Germany in April, 1945.

Military service will be conducted by Arthur McCullough post of American Legion next Sunday, July 25, at 2:30 p.m. Funeral will be at Smykil-Goettsch Funeral home. Rev. Edgar E. Walker, Methodist pastor, will deliver the sermon. Burial will be in Oakwood cemetery, Monticello.

Besides his parents, Mr. Thomas is survived by five brothers, Leland and Ernest, at home, Roland, in the Army stationed in England, Owen and Everett, Anamosa; also three sisters, Mrs. Menno Otten and Mrs. William Brown, Anamosa; and Mrs. James Stahr, Martelle.

Private Thomas entered the service in August, 1944. He went to England in January, 1945. From England he went to France where he served with Patton's Army. He was killed in action three weeks after entering Germany.