James Thomas transcript, 1943-1945, November 19, 2003
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Thomas, James, 1924-2014
- Sellers, Robin
- Extent:
- 1 folders 1 folder
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], James Thomas transcript, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/02-04-0209
Background
- Scope and content:
This collection relates to James Thomas who served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. This collection contains an oral history transcript where Thomas recounts his experiences training with the 10th Mountain Division, and later combat and living conditions in Bougainville and the Philippines.
- Biographical / historical:
James Thomas was born on July 29, 1924 in Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania. In 1942 Thomas graduated from Mt. Carmel High School and worked as an apprentice machinist in Philadelphia until he was drafted in 1943. Thomas initially trained with the 10th Mountain Division for cold weather fighting. After six months, Thomas was transferred to infantry and was assigned in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Thomas served in combat in Bougainville and the invasion of the Philippine Islands on Cebu Island. He was the recipient of two Purple Hearts. Following his military service, he worked for Nationawide Insurance as director of Human Resources. James Thomas and his wife Shirley M. Hildenbrand Thomas had three children together, Lee Ann Ned, Cathy Ferrell, and Craig Thomas. James Thomas passed away on August 14, 2014 at the age of 90. He is buried at Blendon Central Cemetery in Westerville, Ohio.
- Custodial history:
Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Area
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Papua New Guinea--Bougainville Island
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives
World War, 1939-1945--Medical care
World War, 1939-1945--Japan--Surrender
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American - Names:
- United States. Army. Mountain Division, 10th
Thomas, James, 1924-2014
Hope, Bob, 1903-2003 - Places:
- Fort Riley (Kan.)
Camp Hale (Colo.)
Camp Carson (Colo.)
New Caledonia
Leyte (Philippines)
Cebu (Philippines : Province)
World War, 1939-1945, War dead
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open to all researchers.
- Terms of access:
All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
[Title of Item], [Date of Item], [Box and Folder number], James Thomas transcript, Special Collections & Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. https://purl.lib.fsu.edu/fa/02-04-0209
- Location of this collection:
-
116 Honors WayTallahasseeFL32306-2047USA