Charles L. Thomas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Leroy Thomas
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Lieutenant Charles L. Thomas
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| Born | April 17, 1920 Birmingham, Alabama |
| Died | February 15, 1980 (aged 59) Detroit, Michigan |
| Place of burial |
Westlawn Cemetery, Wayne, Michigan
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| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1947 |
| Rank |  Major |
| Unit | C Company, 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Charles Leroy Thomas (born April 17, 1920 – died February 15, 1980) was a brave United States Army officer. He served as a company commander during World War II. In 1997, he received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest award a soldier can get for being very brave. He earned it for his actions on December 14, 1944, in Climbach, France.
Charles Thomas and six other Black American soldiers from World War II were given the Medal of Honor on January 12, 1997. President Bill Clinton presented the medal to Thomas's family after his death. This happened on January 13, 1997, at the White House in Washington, D.C. These seven soldiers were the first and only Black Americans to receive the Medal of Honor for their service in World War II.
Contents
Life Story
Charles Thomas was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in Detroit, Michigan. In 1938, he finished high school at Cass Technical High School. After school, he worked at the Ford Motor Company with his father. He also studied mechanical engineering at Wayne State University.
Joining the Army
On January 20, 1942, Charles Thomas joined the U.S. Army. He went through training at Fort Custer Training Center in Michigan. Then, he trained at Fort Wolters in Texas. He was assigned to a special unit that trained new soldiers.
The Army started creating units to destroy enemy tanks. Thomas was moved to Fort Carson in Colorado. He joined the 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion. This unit was made up of Black soldiers, but most of their officers were white. Thomas quickly became a Sergeant. He was chosen to go to Officer Candidate School (OCS). He graduated from OCS on March 11, 1943. He became a second lieutenant. After that, he took command of Company C in the 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion.
Fighting in World War II
In August 1944, Thomas and his unit went to England. They arrived in September. By October, they were in Normandy, France. The 614th unit then joined General Patton's Third Army in Metz, France. They first saw combat on November 28.
On December 14, 1944, Lieutenant Thomas volunteered for a very important mission. He led a group called "Task Force Blackshear." Their goal was to capture the village of Climbach, France. This town was important because it was close to the German border.
As they approached Climbach, Thomas's armored car was hit by enemy fire. He was wounded. Even though he was hurt, Thomas helped his crew get out of the vehicle. When he left the car, he was wounded again in his chest, legs, and arms.
Heroic Actions
Despite his serious injuries, Thomas kept leading his men. He told them where to set up their anti-tank guns. These guns then fired back at the enemy. This helped the rest of the task force try to get around the German defenders. Thomas made sure the situation was under control. He briefed another officer on what was happening. Only then did he allow himself to be taken for medical help.
His platoon continued fighting for four hours. They lost two of their four guns and more than half of their men were hurt or killed. But their brave actions helped the task force capture Climbach. This forced the enemy to retreat.
For their bravery, Thomas's platoon received a special award called the Distinguished Unit Citation. This was the first time a Black combat unit received this honor. Thomas himself received the Distinguished Service Cross on February 20, 1945. He returned home as a hero. He stayed in the Army and retired as a Major on August 10, 1947.
Later Life and Medal of Honor
After the war, Charles Thomas married in 1949. He and his wife had two children. He worked as a missile technician and later as a computer programmer. Charles Thomas passed away from cancer on February 15, 1980. He was buried in Westlawn Cemetery in Wayne, Michigan.
In the early 1990s, the U.S. Army looked into why some Black soldiers had not received the Medal of Honor during World War II. A study found that there was unfair treatment because of race. In 1996, Congress passed a law. This law allowed President Clinton to award the Medal of Honor to these soldiers.
Seven Black Americans, including Major Thomas, were approved for the Medal of Honor. Six of them had their Distinguished Service Crosses changed to the Medal of Honor. On January 13, 1997, President Clinton presented the Medal of Honor to these seven soldiers. Major Thomas and five others received the award after their deaths. Thomas's niece accepted his medal during the ceremony. Vernon Baker was the only living soldier to receive the medal that day.
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| Combat Infantry Badge | ||||||||||||
| Medal of Honor | Purple Heart | Army Good Conduct Medal | ||||||||||
| American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/ 3/16" bronze star | World War II Victory Medal | ||||||||||
See also
