Private First Class Thomas was a member of the 4th Airborne Ranger Company, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. He died of other causes on 1 April 1951 at the 4th Field Hospital in Taegu, South Korea.

Thomas was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, 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.