He resided in Hamilton County, Tennessee prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on October 17, 1942 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Married.
Thomas was a passenger on the H.M.T. Rohna.
The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.
1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.
Thomas was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 14158919
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Contributor: Catherine Haynes, a Central FL veterans advocate (47584026) ]
He resided in Hamilton County, Tennessee prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on October 17, 1942 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Married.
Thomas was a passenger on the H.M.T. Rohna.
The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.
1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.
Thomas was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Service # 14158919
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Contributor: Catherine Haynes, a Central FL veterans advocate (47584026) ]
Inscription
SGT Army Air Forces Florida WWII PH
Gravesite Details
Was declared "Missing in Action" during WWII. This is a memorial headstone, the remains were never returned to the family.
Family Members
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James David Tyner
1897–1957
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Mabel Viola Tyner Krell
1898–1969
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Eunice Christine Tyner Martin
1901–2002
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Elmer J. Tyner
1903–1982
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Leonard B. Tyner
1905–1906
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Florence M Sheppard
1907–1996
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Gussie A. Tyner
1909–1910
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Elinor Elisabeth Tyner Schwalbe
1911–1992
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Pearl Mildred Tyner Ansorge
1913–1994
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Sgt. Thomas Olin Tyner Jr
1917–1943
Other Records
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