Pfc. Ernest Thomas (died 1953)

THOMAS, OTTEN, BROWN, STAHR

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/11/2022 at 07:44:25

22 June 1953 - The Anamosa Journal

Mrs. Olin Thomas, Anamosa, received a letter, Friday, written Monday, June 8, by her son, Pfc. Ernest R. Thomas, in Korea.

"Well, Mom," it said in part, "just three more months and I'll be back on that side." And the letter went on telling what he wanted to do when he got home.

Three days later, Pfc. Ernest Thomas, U.S. Infantry, died on a Korean hill.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas received a telegram Thursday beginning, "The Secretary of Defense regrets to inform you . . . "

This is the second such telegram for the Thomas family. Their son, Francis, died April 8, 1945, in Germany. His body now rests in Oakwood cemetery, Monticello.

Of the six sons in the family, all have served--two have died. Roland now lives in Woodstock, Ill., Everett in Anamosa, and Owen in Marion. Leland is in Japan now and is expecting assignment to Korea soon.

Ernest who died in Korea would have been 20 in August. Francis who died in Germany would have been 19 if he had lived just a few more days.

Ernest had been in service since April, 1952, overseas since November, 1952, and in combat since Jan. 1, 1953. He had just completed a course in a squad leaders school in Seoul and was due for a rest leave in Japan. He had been wounded twice by shrapnel but had not been hospitalized.

He was a graduate of the Morley schools.

In addition to his parents and brothers, Ernest is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Menno Otten, Anamosa; Mrs. Bill Brown, Anamosa; and Mrs. James Stahr, Martelle.

17 August 1953 - The Anamosa Journal

Military rites for Pfc. Ernest R. Thomas were held Monday, Aug. 17, at Goettsch funeral home, Anamosa, with burial in Oakwood cemetery, Monticello. Rev. W. D. Wigger officiated.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Olin Thomas, Anamosa, Pfc. Thomas was killed by a mortar shell in Korea June 11. His body arrived in Anamosa Saturday morning accompanied by his brother, Pvt. Leland Thomas, who has been stationed in Japan.

Ernest entered the service in April 1952 and had been overseas since November. He had been in combat since Jan. 1 and would have been 20 years of age Sunday, Aug. 16.

An older brother, Francis, was killed in Germany in 1945 and is also buried in Oakwood cemetery.

Besides his parents he is survived by four brothers, Leland; Roland, Woodstock, Ill.; Everett, Anamosa; and Owen, Marion; and three sisters, Mrs. Menno Otten and Mrs. Bill Brown, both of Anamosa; and Mrs. James Stahr, Martelle.

Pall bearers were members of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Included were Frank Michels, Alan LeClere, Louis Yanda, Leonard Hass, Robert Carteno and L. L. Douglas.

Fred Pilcher commanded the firing squad at the military rites with the squad including Jack Austin, Lyle Russell, Frank McNamara, J. C. Burke, Delbert Connolly, a Korean veteran, and Arthur Marek.

Harold Hoppe and Richard Fulwider comprised the color guard with Kenneth Rands, Francis Brady and David Gray serving as color bearers. Legion Commander Donald Brady and V. F. W. commander Russell Wolfe were their organizations' official representatives.

Anamosa businessmen flew flags all day Monday in honor of the dead soldier. Stores remained closed from 1:30 until 2:30 for the funeral at the request of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors.