Chris Thomas, Jr. Killed in Action in Solomons Fight
Iowa Marine Was Former Resident of Mason City
Chris Thomas, Jr., 25, former Mason Cityan, was killed in action in the Solomons, according to word received here Saturday by his aunt, Mrs. H. G. Martin, 805 North Federal avenue. No details of his death were given in the communication from the War Department.
The last letter received from Thomas, who was a member of the U. S. Marine Corps units participating in the Battle of the Solomons, arrived here Nov. 12 and was written Oct. 16.
Thomas was born on the Harvey Bryant farm five miles west of Mason City and attended rural school at Emery crossing. He was a graduate of Floyd high school. Later he moved with his family to Waterloo, where he enlisted in the Marine Corps in October, 1941.
Thomas is survived by his parents in Waterloo, where his father is employed by the John Deere company, and by three brothers in the U. S. Navy. One brother, Frank Thomas, was cited for bravery at Pearl Harbor. Two brothers are stationed on the Atlantic coast, one a seaman 1st class and the other on patrol duty on a navy bomber.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, November 16, 1942 (photo included)
Iowa Honor Roll
These Iowans, like those pictured here on previous Sundays, have given their lives for their country. They were fatally wounded in combat or died in prison camps. The fourth line under each name designates the war area in which the man last served.
Source: The Des Moines Register, Sunday, March 5, 1944 (33 photos included)
City in Brief
Posthumous medals were presented the parents of Christ L. Thomas, a private in the marine reserves, who was killed on the aircraft carrier, Hornet, Oct. 26, 1942. Mr. and Mrs. Chris Thomas, 423 Vaughn street, were sent the American defense service medal, Asiatic-Pacific campaign medal, Victory medal of World war II.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo IA, Thursday, October 07, 1948, Section Two, Page 23
Christy Lohrman Thomas was born Feb. 19, 1918 to Christ and Katherine Lorhman Thomas. He died Oct. 26, 1942 and was buried at sea. He is memorialized at the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig, Philippines.
Pvt. Thomas was KIA in combat operations in the Solomon Islands (Battle of Santa Cruz Islands). He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
