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Wounded Vet Helps
Recruit Railroad Men
Every Additional Train
Saves Lives
Lt. Thornton Avers
Men of Idaho not engaged In vital war work Thursday were
urged to answer the call for railroad workers immediately “because every additional train that moves will save many a brave man’s life and hasten the day of victory in the Pacific”
That urgent appeal was made by Lt Frank B. Thornton of Seattle now recruiting men here for vital work with the Union Pacific’s Idaho division.
Lt. Thornton left his left leg near the hotly-fought-for bridge at Arnhem, Holland. He’s now wearing: an artificial left leg and walks with the help of a cane. He suffered other wounds too. He still carries pieces of shrapnel in his body. It all happened while on day patrol Nov. 4, 1944 when the Jerries sighted him and an 88 mm shell tore off his limb and filled him full of shrapnel. "The leg was walking distance” he said “but I couldn't get to it”
By Army profession he is a paratrooper. He was in the D-day invasion of Normandy and again in Holland. He never got a scratch while parachuting he said.
He said they really caught the Nazis unawares on D-day adding that they were completely confused since they were on maneuvers at the time. Several days later after holding their objectives Thornton and other paratroopers of his outfit, the 508th parachute regiment of the 82nd division, made contact with other invading land forces.
For his bravery and sacrifice during 18 months in Europe Lt
Thornton received the purple heart with cluster, the bronze star,
British combined theater off operations bar, the unit citation bar
and ribbons for both the American and European theater. |
He was on the Alcan highway prior to receiving his commission.
He spent many months in British and American hospitals in Belgium and England and his praise for the medics of the Army is only the best.
He pleaded with Idahoans to answer the call of the Union Pacific which needs 900 men at once Skilled men switchmen brakemen machinists and the like are needed mostly he said.
Anyone interested may apply at the United States employment service or at their nearest Union Pacific agent’s office
Lt Thornton declared “The need is desperate and those men fighting the battle against the Japs must have everything they need — that’s what beat Hitler's supposedly unconquerable hoards” Lt Thornton concluded
[The Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID, 27 Jul 1945, Fri, Page 7]
Railroad Recruiters
To Interview Nampans
(The Statesman Idaho Wire)
NAMPA — A group of four recruiters for the western railroad manpower drive are expected to be at the USES office Monday to interview prospective workers They will include George R Gochnour of Boise, WMC area director for southwestern Idaho, Albert A Anderson, USES interviewer at Boise R C Newton Union Pacific employment supervisor and Lt. Frank B Thornton of Seattle on convalescent leave to the group from Bushnell General hospital. He was with 508th parachute regiment of the 82nd division.
[The Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID, 11 Aug 1945, Sat, Page 7] |
[courtesy of "Harrison"]
Grave marker for Frank B. Thornton in Section I,
Site 572, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. San Diego (San Diego
county), California.
A recent college graduate, Frank registered for the
draft in Port Orchard, WA on 16 October 1940 and was inducted into
the Army on 20 August 1941, On 14 August
1944, 1st Lt Thornton was transferred from the 11th Replacement
Depot to Company C, 508th PIR. Lt Thornton
was wounded in action on 6 October 1944 and evacuated to a field
hospital. Although the Morning Report indicated he was
"slightly wounded," he had in fact lost his left leg. He later
described the incident as "the 88 shell blasted my left leg within
walking distance, but I couldn't get to it."
On 17 November 1944 he was transferred to the
Parachute Replacement Regiment at the Parachute School, Fort
Benning, GA for additional treatment.
Elevated to the rank of Captain, he was discharged under disability
on 25 January 1946. |
