Growing up in Memphis and War Production

Training for War

Amphibious Training and Overseas Deployment

Medic in Europe

War's End

Treating the Troops

Occupation Duty in Japan

Postwar and Reflections

Souvenirs

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[Annotator's Note: There is some informal talking between the interviewer and interviewee at the beginning of the tape.] Kenneth F. Thomas was born in 1923 and grew up in Memphis [Anotator's Note: Memphis, Tennessee]. His father was a bookkeeper and his mother stayed at home. Thomas enjoyed his childhood going to the park and school. He played sports in his front yard with neighborhood friends. He recalled not having luxuries but did have a good childhood. He was a photographer in high school and graduated in 1941. Thomas was eating breakfast in North Carolina when he heard the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. He was working at a studio at the time but returned home with the intention of join the Navy but due to his history of Asthma, they did not accept him. He went to work for Fisher Body Company where he built the wings for B-25 bombers [Annotator's Note: North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber]. He recalled working with some females and commented that they were tough and did their jobs well. He married his girlfriend in November 1942 before he was drafted into the Army in February 1943.

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Kenneth F. Thomas reported to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia for induction [Annotator's Note: he had been drafted into the Army on 3 February 1943] then went to Fort Joseph T. Robinson [Annotator's Note: Fort Joseph T. Robinson, North Little Rock, Arkansas] for basic training. He received a lot of medical training and truck driving while there. His drill sergeant was tough but Thomas appreciated all the training he received from him. With a background in photography, the Army sent Thomas to x-ray school in Colorado then he was selected to be part of the Army Specialized Training Program for engineers where he trained at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. He took advanced math, science, languages and physical training. Training came to an abrupt stop because the Army needed replacements during the Battle of the Bulge [Annotator's Note: Battle of the Bulge or German Ardennes Counter Offensive, 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945]. He was then sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to join Company C, 322nd Medical Battalion, 97th Infantry Division. He recalled Army life as just being told what to do. He drove a truck and worked as a medic during the war in Europe. His truck partner lost his mind while in war and had to be sent to a hospital. Thomas did not see him again until after the war.

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Kenneth F. Thomas's unit [Annotator's Note: Company C, 322nd Medical Battalion, 97th Infantry Division] was sent to California for amphibious training before being sent overseas to Europe. It took several days on the troop train to get to Camp Kilmer [Annotator's Note: Camp Kilmer, New Jersey] from where he was shipped overseas on a large passenger liner. The weather was bad and many of the troops were seasick on the voyage. Thomas volunteered to work in the spud locker [Annotator's Note: potato locker], and he was able to eat with the Navy men.

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Kenneth F. Thomas's unit [Annotator's Note: Company C, 322nd Medical Battalion, 97th Infantry Division] arrived in Le Havre [Annotator's Note: Le Havre, France] in March 1945. The weather was freezing cold. Thomas recalls going straight into combat. He treated casualties and carried them to and from the aid station. Although Thomas went to Europe at the tail end of World War 2, he experienced a lot of combat. [Annotator's Note: The interviewer pauses the interview to change tapes at 0:50:34.000.] One night, he was at the company headquarters and he was sent to get an ambulance to the aid station, which was an old farmhouse. While Thomas was taking a rest, the Germans came into the farmhouse and took him and others prisoner. They marched them 20 miles and put them in an old school building. Thomas and his fellow prisoners were then taken to a small village where the mayor decided to let them go. They headed toward their lines but were afraid that the American troops would not recognize them, so one of the troops with Thomas yelled some obscenity to let them know they were also American. They were let through the line.

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Kenneth F. Thomas treated a lot of bullet and shrapnel wounds when treating troops. He also treated civilian children and assisted with a birth. He also treated German soldiers who asked for morphine. Toward the end of the war, they drove into Pilsen, [Annotator's Note: Pilsen, Czechoslovakia; now Pilsen, Czech Republic] and the locals were very happy to see the Americans. Thomas commented that the people gave them beer and flowers, and he felt like he was in a parade. After the war, Thomas was assigned to oversee prisoners in Bavaria [Annotator's Note: Bavaria, Germany]. He was then sent back to Fort Bragg [Annotator's Note: Fort Bragg, North Carolina], where they trained for the invasion of Japan. Thomas received letters and packages from his wife and parents throughout the war.

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Kenneth F. Thomas was captured by the Germans one night. One was an SS [Annotator's Note: Schutzstaffel; German paramilitary organization] man. He recalled that the Germans threatened with their dogs but did not hurt them any other way. Thomas was amazed how much the Germans knew about his unit [Annotator's Note: Company C, 322nd Medical Battalion, 97th Infantry Division]. Thomas and the other prisoners were eventually let go and were given directions back to the line. Thomas returned to his regular duties as a combat medic. He recalled being shelled numerous times while in combat. One time, he was setting up an aid stations when the Germans began shelling. He was also shot at while driving.

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Kenneth F. Thomas had returned to the United States to train for the invasion of Japan, then he was put on a ship headed to Japan. His division [Annotator's Note: 97th Infantry Division] was to be in the second wave to invade the country, but the war had ended a few days before they were supposed to land. [Annotator's Note: The interviewee is interrupted by someone off the screen at 1:35:50:000.] Thomas was assigned to do occupation duty in Japan. He befriended a former Japanese cavalry sergeant that he wrestled with while in the country. This man also took Thomas to meet some dignitaries in the nearby communities. Other than this one person, Thomas felt that the Japanese were stand-offish. He left Japan in January 1946 to return home and was discharged in February as a Private First Class.

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Kenneth F. Thomas believes the war matured him and he feels fortunate that he made it through the war alive. He met many friends during his experience. [Annotator's Notes: The interviewee is interrupted by a person off screen 1:50:06:000.] Thomas recalled the first dead soldier he saw was a friend which shocked him. He had survivor's guilt when he returned home. He also had problems with loud noises. When he heard a car backfire or loud thunder, he would look for cover.

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Kenneth F. Thomas shows some of his souvenirs from World War 2. Some of the items include his medic armband, items he had taken from Germans, photographs of Adolf Hitler [Annotator's Note: German dictator Adolf Hitler], a book of photographs that he had taken during his war experience, and a Japanese flag.

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