Technical Sergeant Thomas was a crew member of a B-29A Superfortress from the 371st Bomber Squadron, 19th Bomber Group, 307th Bomber Wing. On 22 July 1952, while on a combat mission, his aircraft caught fire northeast of Ocho-o, South Korea, and crashed. All thirteen airmen were killed.

Thomas was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.