Fred Thomas

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Fred Thomas, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 16th Company, 5th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near Chateau-Thierry, France, June 25, 1918. Second Lieutenant Thomas commanded the left flank platoon of his company, which was subjected to heavy fire from enemy machine-guns and trench mortars. When further advance in the face of the fire became impossible, he went forward alone, located the machine-gun positions, and then organized a flank attack on the emplacements, putting out of action four guns, one of which he himself captured. In this exploit his command suffered 40 per cent casualties and captured twenty-one prisoners. Reforming the remnants of his platoon, he moved forward through the enemy’s barrage and to his objective, which he consolidated and held in the face of three counterattacks in five hours.

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Fred Thomas, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 16th Company, 5th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near St. Etienne, France, October 4, 1918. While endeavoring to re-establish a large company front, which had become disconnected, Second Lieutenant Thomas encountered a large number of the enemy filtering through our lines. By strategic maneuvers he formed a strong resistance, causing heavy casualties on the enemy and forcing their retreat, after he himself had been seriously wounded.