COUNTY MAN AWARDED SILVER STAR IN MANILA
With The 37th Infantry Division ~ Philippines
Sgt. Charles R. Thomas, Haworth, is today the holder of the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action during the liberation of Manila. Among the first fighting troops to enter the Philippines capital, Sergeant Thomas is the son of Mrs. Rusha S. Thomas, of Star Route, Haworth.
According to the citation accompanying the award, "Sergeant Thomas led an automatic rifle team into the heavily fortified legislative building in Manila, and saw that one of his men was wounded by machine gun fire emanating from a pillbox at the end of a corridor. Exposing himself to the fire of the machine gun, Sgt. Thomas picked up the fallen man's rifle, and, despite a leg wound, continued to divert the hostile fire with such accuracy that the evacuation of the casualty was successfully accomplished."
A Veteran of more than 24 months overseas service, Thomas previously saw action as a jungle fighter on Bougainville in the Solomons, and has served on Guadalcanal and New Caledonia. In addition to the Silver Star, Sgt. Thomas wears the Purple Heart for wounds received in action, the Combat Infantryman Badge for exemplary conduct in combat, and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Battle Stars.
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McCurtain Gazette
Wednesday, May 9, 1945
-------------------------
COUNTY MAN AWARDED SILVER STAR IN MANILA
With The 37th Infantry Division ~ Philippines
Sgt. Charles R. Thomas, Haworth, is today the holder of the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action during the liberation of Manila. Among the first fighting troops to enter the Philippines capital, Sergeant Thomas is the son of Mrs. Rusha S. Thomas, of Star Route, Haworth.
According to the citation accompanying the award, "Sergeant Thomas led an automatic rifle team into the heavily fortified legislative building in Manila, and saw that one of his men was wounded by machine gun fire emanating from a pillbox at the end of a corridor. Exposing himself to the fire of the machine gun, Sgt. Thomas picked up the fallen man's rifle, and, despite a leg wound, continued to divert the hostile fire with such accuracy that the evacuation of the casualty was successfully accomplished."
A Veteran of more than 24 months overseas service, Thomas previously saw action as a jungle fighter on Bougainville in the Solomons, and has served on Guadalcanal and New Caledonia. In addition to the Silver Star, Sgt. Thomas wears the Purple Heart for wounds received in action, the Combat Infantryman Badge for exemplary conduct in combat, and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Battle Stars.
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McCurtain Gazette
Wednesday, May 9, 1945
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