PFC Herbert Alexander Thomas

PFC Herbert Alexander Thomas was born 5 May 1912 in French Creek, West Virginia. He was the eldest of 2 children of John S. and Georgia (Phillips) Thomas. The family moved to a farm that his father owned near Meade, West Virginia. It was here that he attended and completed high school. Soon after he turned 18, in 1930, Herbert moved to Baltimore to find work. He apparently also found love and married Corinne Theresa Rey on 4 Jul 1938. The couple would have a son. In 1940, Herbert was supporting his wife by working as a truck driver for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Baltimore, Maryland where they lived on the second floor of 2317 Frederick Street. His mother-in-law and her 2 younger sons lived on the first floor. Herbert reported a 1939 income of $700. He then got a job as a brakeman on the Baltimore & Ohio.

Herbert was drafted in December 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to England and then to France. PVT Thomas was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944. In a reorganization effort as the regiment moved to begin the effort to liberate Vire, France, he was transferred to A Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman. He fought with unit at Vire and was promoted on 11 Aug 1944. PFC Thomas then moved with his company into the attack against German forces occupying Brest and was killed in action on 26 Aug 1944. 

PFC Thomas rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.