Staff Sergeant Thomas was the radio operator of a B-29A Superfortress with the 371st Bomber Squadron, 307th Bomber Wing. On 7 April 1951, while on a bombing mission, his aircraft was attacked by two MiGs. It crashed about four miles off the North Korean coastline. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on 31 January 1954. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Thomas was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, 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.