Charles W. Thomas (Captain)
Encyclopedia
Charles Ward "Tommy" Thomas was a flag officer
in the United States Coast Guard
and commanding officer of the icebreakers USCGC Northland (WPG-49)
and USCGC Eastwind (WAGB-279)
that served in the Greenland Patrol during World War II
. In August 1945 he was appointed Commander, Greenland Patrol. After the war he was commanding officer of USCGC Northwind (WAGB-282) during Operation Highjump
; The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Project 1946–1947, also known as the Fourth Byrd Antarctic Expedition.
Later followed expeditions in the Bering Sea.
All these adventures Captain Thomas described in his book from 1951 "Ice Is Where You Find It"
Admiral Thomas appeared in the United States Navy
documentary film The Secret Land
, produced in 1948. The film won an Academy Award in its category in 1948.
Later in his career he rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.
3 September 1903; he was graduated from Fairhaven High School in Bellingham, Washington
and attended Western College of Education
in the same city. He served nearly two years in the Washington National Guard
.
During World War II
he met a young Danish nurse, Miss Anna Magnella Jensen of Ivigtût
, Greenland
. The couple were married and had a daughter, Trina Anne Thomas, born in April 1952, and a son, Charles Ward Thomas, Jr, who served in the United States Army
.
in New London, Connecticut
and appointed as a cadet in July 1922. He was graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy on 24 October 1924 and commissioned as Ensign, United States Coast Guard. He was promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 24 October 1926, and to Lieutenant on 24 October 1928. On 24 October 1932 he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, and to Commander on 17 July 1942. On 1 June 1943 he was promoted to Captain, and retired as Rear Admiral 1 November 1957 in Washington State.
, Argentina
on 3 March 1973. Admiral Thomas was sixty-nine years old at the time of his death. News of Admiral Thomas' untimely death was announced to the fleet by ADM Chester R. Bender
, Commandant of the Coast Guard
shortly thereafter. The Commandant noted "with deepest sorrow" the loss of a "true friend and shipmate", an "outstanding icebreaker sailor", and a "benevolent skipper".
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
in the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
and commanding officer of the icebreakers USCGC Northland (WPG-49)
USCGC Northland (WPG-49)
The Coast Guard cutter Northland, WPG-49, a cruising class of gunboat especially designed for Arctic operations, served in World War II, and served in the Israeli navy.-Design:...
and USCGC Eastwind (WAGB-279)
USCGC Eastwind (WAGB-279)
USCGC Eastwind was a United States Coast Guard Wind-class icebreaker.She was laid down in 1942 and launched in 1944. Eastwind ferried 200 US army troops which captured the last German weather station in Greenland, Edelweiss II, on 4 October 1944. She also seized the German trawler Externsteine,...
that served in the Greenland Patrol during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In August 1945 he was appointed Commander, Greenland Patrol. After the war he was commanding officer of USCGC Northwind (WAGB-282) during Operation Highjump
Operation Highjump
Operation Highjump , officially titled The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program, 1946-1947, was a United States Navy operation organized by RADM Richard E. Byrd Jr. USN, , Officer in Charge, Task Force 68, and led by RADM Richard H. Cruzen, USN, Commanding Officer, Task Force 68....
; The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Project 1946–1947, also known as the Fourth Byrd Antarctic Expedition.
Later followed expeditions in the Bering Sea.
All these adventures Captain Thomas described in his book from 1951 "Ice Is Where You Find It"
Admiral Thomas appeared in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
documentary film The Secret Land
The Secret Land
The Secret Land is a 1948 documentary film about an American expedition code-named "Operation High Jump" to explore Antarctica. It won the Academy Award for Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.-Cast:...
, produced in 1948. The film won an Academy Award in its category in 1948.
Later in his career he rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.
Personal life
Charles Ward Thomas was born in Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
3 September 1903; he was graduated from Fairhaven High School in Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
and attended Western College of Education
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
in the same city. He served nearly two years in the Washington National Guard
Washington National Guard
The Washington National Guard is headquartered at Camp Murray, Washington and is defined by its state and federal mission. At the call of the Governor, the Washington National Guard will mobilize and deploy during times of state emergency to augment local jurisdictions and responders in their...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he met a young Danish nurse, Miss Anna Magnella Jensen of Ivigtût
Ivittuut
Ivittuut, was a municipality , located on the coast of Arsuk fjord in southern Greenland. With an area of just 100 km² , it was the smallest municipality of Greenland, bordering on the former Narsaq municipality in the north, east, and south, and on the west by the Labrador Sea...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. The couple were married and had a daughter, Trina Anne Thomas, born in April 1952, and a son, Charles Ward Thomas, Jr, who served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
U.S. Coast Guard Career
He was admitted to the United States Coast Guard AcademyUnited States Coast Guard Academy
Founded in 1876, the United States Coast Guard Academy is the military academy of the United States Coast Guard. Located in New London, Connecticut, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies...
in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
and appointed as a cadet in July 1922. He was graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy on 24 October 1924 and commissioned as Ensign, United States Coast Guard. He was promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) on 24 October 1926, and to Lieutenant on 24 October 1928. On 24 October 1932 he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, and to Commander on 17 July 1942. On 1 June 1943 he was promoted to Captain, and retired as Rear Admiral 1 November 1957 in Washington State.
Death
Admiral Thomas was killed by a speeding car as he was crossing a street while on holiday in Ushuaia, Tierra del FuegoUshuaia, Tierra del Fuego
Ushuaia is the capital city of Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina. It is commonly regarded as the southernmost city in the world. Ushuaia is located in a wide bay on the southern coast of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, bounded on the north by the Martial mountain range and on the south by the...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
on 3 March 1973. Admiral Thomas was sixty-nine years old at the time of his death. News of Admiral Thomas' untimely death was announced to the fleet by ADM Chester R. Bender
Chester R. Bender
Chester R. Bender served as the fourteenth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1970 to 1974. He also served as Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy from 1965 to 1967.-Early life and education:...
, Commandant of the Coast Guard
Commandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
shortly thereafter. The Commandant noted "with deepest sorrow" the loss of a "true friend and shipmate", an "outstanding icebreaker sailor", and a "benevolent skipper".
External links
- http://thelastoutpost.com/video-1/alternative-science/the-secret-land.html The Secret Land 1948, U.S. Navy documentary film of Operation Highjump, with extensive Northwind footage, and views of CAPT Thomas.