Item Description
Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is the tremendous ephemera grouping of Sergeant King David Thomas, Company I, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, a veteran of Corregidor and squad leader who was wounded on Negros Island in 1945. The group includes a tremendous map of Corregidor signed by 34 of his comrades.
His Army Qualification Record notes about his service:
SQUAD LEADER: As squad leader of a 12 man parachute infantry squad, helped train men in infantry tactics, jungle warfare and parachute maneuvers. Had 13 practice jumps from aircraft and made jumps in combat on Noemfoor Islands and on the Island of Corregidor. Participated in initial beach landings on Negros and Mindora Islands and throughout all combat supervised squad of 12 riflemen and mortarmen. Was awarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received in action in combat on Negros Islands.
This tremendous grouping includes:
- 20 x 22” Map of Corregidor Island signed by 34+ members of his unit with most providing addresses. This is a fantastic piece that is worthy of being framed.
- Captured Japanese flag with heavy mothing and stain damage, measuring roughly 28 x 32” with leather reinforcements retained.
- Extremely Rare First Edition “The Return to Corregidor” book in fantastic condition. Printed 1945. Great color on the cover.
- King’s Parachute School certificate, dated February 6th, 1943. Private King D. Thomas, 7082029.
- King’s “Ancient Order of the Deep” membership card.
- King’s “Life in the Service” book with many areas filled out including unit information, a calendar of events recording his training information, and his transfers.
- King’s Individual Score Book for the rifle with several pages filled out.
- Soldering in the Tropics booklet.
- Several official HQ documents with information about unit citations, congratulations from General MacArthur, etc.
- Pay Day Parodies newspaper for the Fighting 13th, October 1941 issue.
- Letter to King with 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment patch inside.
- Captured pamphlet dropped on Japanese soldiers giving them the option to surrender.
- King’s Parachute Log Record with entires up to October 1944.
- Purple Heart medal in original presentation case with ribbon and pin. Not engraved.
- Some great photos including a 2½ x 3½” photo of his men Rich & Stair holding captured Japanese battle flags on Corregidor, and a 2½ x 3½” photo of 8 men in his platoon, all named on the back with one noted as being killed in Leyte Island on the Philippines.
- 37th Field Hospital document recording his wound.
- King’s Sergeant promotion certificate, dated 1942.
- “Capture” paperwork from sending his Purple Heart home to his wife.
- Two captured Philippine Japanese bills, 5 and 10 pesos.
- Several letters to and from King.
- Two 503rd Airborne “The Rock” patches, post-war.
- Copy of his discharge and separation documents.
- King’s Combat Infantryman Badge marked Sterling, post-war.
- King’s Paratrooper wings, post-war, missing the backings.
- King’s 3 place ribbon bar with the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and Asiatic Campaign medal with 3 stars.
- Various other bits of ephemera.
King David Thomas was born on March 1st, 1922 in Baxter, Tennessee. He first enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 18th, 1940, almost 2 years before the U.S. declared war. He served with the 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division before being transferred several times, finally into the 1st Parachute Training Regiment on January 11th, 1943. He recorded his training, his different jumps and other information in his service log. He left for the Pacific on July 25th, 1943, arriving on August 13th, 1943. Thomas had 13 practice jumps from aircraft, and made jumps in combat on Noemfoor Islands and on the Island of Corregidor. He participated in initial beach landings on Negros and Mindora Islands and throughout all combat supervised squad of 12 riflemen and mortarmen. He awarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received in action in combat on Negros Islands on May 4th, 1945. Thomas left for the U.S. on July 30th, 1945, arriving home on August 17th, 1945. He passed away on December 20th, 2013 at the age of 91.
This is a fantastic one-of-a-kind ephemera grouping to a squad leader who fought in the recapture of Corregidor. The signed map is one of the best we’ve ever seen. Comes ready for further research and display!
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