Clinton Wallace Thomas received multiple awards including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was with the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. He is memorialized at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy.
WWII soldier’s dog tags found in Italy, returned to Madisonville
Posted: Nov 11, 2010 5:55 PM
The 20-year-old soldier’s dog tags were sent from Italy.
By ANN KEIL
6 News Reporter
MADISONVILLE (WATE) – A Monroe County family received some closure on Veterans Day for a loved one lost during a WWII battle in Italy.
Pvt. Clinton Wallace Thomas was listed as missing in action since 1944.
“He never got a funeral. He never got a 21 gun salute, and he never got a flag folding ceremony,” said a Monroe County official at the annual event held on the Monroe County Courthouse steps.
His family was told he may have died defending a bridge, but what really became of the soldier had always been unclear, until now.
The 20-year-old soldier’s dog tags were sent from Italy.
In a town close to Cassino on a rocky hillside, the tags were recently discovered by an Italian WWII researcher who contacted a Monroe County genealogy page host by email.
“This put a closure on today. I feel more at ease now,” said Thomas’ nephew, Ernest Thomas.
“It was important for me to bring him home so it was thrilling,” said Joy Locke, one of the Monroe County genealogy page hosts.
Along with the dog tags a letter was sent to the family and read aloud at the Veterans Day ceremony.
“I think that Clint, maybe, will be glad to be remembered after 66 years and that something of him is back home now,” a Monroe County official said.
Pvt. Thomas’ siblings have since passed away. The next generation said they will hold on tight to Thursday’s special moment and the personal piece of history sent back to them.
“I wish my dad and my uncle, his brothers, were alive to see the dog tags,” Thomas said.
Thomas received multiple awards including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was with the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division.
His family was also given a proclamation read by state Sen. Randy NcNally and state Rep. Jimmy Matlock.
- Rank: Private
- Date of death: 4 February 1945
- County: Monroe
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart, Bronze Star
- Burial/Memorial Location: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVI, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Clinton W. Thomas
