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 Corporal
Thomas P. Thorne
November 12, 1924 -
March 24, 1945
Trenton, New Jersey - Dinslaken, Germany |
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Thomas P. Thorne
was born on 12 November 1924 in Trenton, New
Jersey. He attended Rahway High School in Rahway,
NJ. After graduation he went to study at Rutgers
University in September 1942. While at Rutgers,
Thomas was a brother of Beta Theta Pi. He only
attended one year as he enlisted in the army on 27
May, 1943.
He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 24
February, 1945.
He trained at Camp Wheeler, GA and served with
Company L, 315th Infantry, 79th Division of the 9th
Army.
The 79th Infantry Division landed in Normandy on 12
June and saw action for the first time on the 19th
of that month. It continued to be in action till
early 1945, when it was taken off the line for some
rest and recuperation. In March of 1945 the division
was brought up to the Rhine river to participate in
the Rhine crossing, Operation Varsity.
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315th Infantry Regiment
79th Infantry Division |
The
XVI Corps' plan called for two infantry divisions,
the 30th and 79th, to cross the river simultaneously
at Mehrum and Milchplatz. After the bridgehead was
expanded, the 35th and 75th Infantry Divisions would
be committed. The 8th Armored Division, as the corps
reserve, would be held west of the Rhine until the
battle for the far shore was developed enough to
show where it could be employed best.
Thomas was killed on the first day of the operation,
24 March 1945, while on a patrol crossing the high
ground north of Dinslaken, to see if the enemy had
established a line of resistance there. When the
patrol reached its destination, it was immediately
fired upon by the enemy.
Cpl Thomas Thorne is buried at
Margraten American Military Cemetery, Plot D Row
1 Grave 26.
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