Private First Class Thomas B. Brittain, Jr.
United States Army, World War II – Killed In Action
17th Airborne Division
April 4, 2022 - Thomas Bernard, Jr. was the youngest of ten children born to Elizabeth “Lizzie” Cash and Thomas Bernard Brittain, Sr. He entered this world on October 6, 1915 in the far east Texas town of San Augustine and would be known as “Little Britt” by all who knew him. His siblings were Amanda Irene (1887), Elza (1891), Evie (1893), William Laurie (1897), Addie Minter (1899), Maud (1901), John Franklin (1904), Bernice (1906) and Lillian (1909). Tragically sisters Addie and Maud died at the young ages of 11 months and 3 years respectively. When Thomas was only two years only his mother Lizzie died at the age of 49 and family history shows he was then raised by his eldest sister Amanda and her husband Henry Wilkerson in San Augustine, Texas. Father Thomas, Sr. died at the age of 70 on April 14, 1934 when Thomas was 19 and buried with his wife in the San Augustine City Cemetery.
The 1940 census that was taken April 3 documented that Thomas was now head of the household and married to a 19 year old lady name Charlsie. They were living in a rental home in Center, Shelby County, Texas where he had employment as a restaurant waiter. Living with them were his brother Elza and cousin Bryan. The census also showed that five years earlier in 1935 Thomas was living in rural Mexico.(1)
On October 16, 1940 Thomas complied with the Selective Service Act of 1940 by registering for the military draft in Precinct 1, Center, Texas. His registration card, D.S.S. Form 1 noted the following; address, Center, Texas; Age 25; name of person who will always know your address, Mrs. Charlsie Brittain, wife; Employment, Bakers Café, Center, Texas; Physical description, Race, white, five foot nine inches tall, 150 pounds, gray eyes, brown hair and a light complexion; Physical characteristic that will aid in identification, slight scar on right cheek and over left eye.(2)
With the surprise Japanese attack on US Military facilities at Pearl Harbor, Hickam and Wheeler Fields, Hawaii on December 7, 1941, the United States was once again engaged in a World War but this time on two fronts, Europe and the Pacific. During the Christmas season of 1942, Thomas received his draft notice and took the oath of enlistment in Tyler, Smith County, Texas on December 11. His marital status showed he was separated with dependents.(3)
Although not documented Private Brittain probably took his 12 to 13 week Army basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas that was near Tyler. The book titled “The Men and Women in World War II from Shelby County listed his training in Texas, Georgia and Maryland. He volunteered to be a paratrooper and no doubt took his jump training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduation Thomas was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division, nicknamed “Golden Talons” with the motto “Thunder From Heaven”. The unit would have then moved to Fort Meade, Maryland in preparation for transport to Europe, sending home personal effects and receiving needed shots and supplies.
Arriving in the United Kingdom, August 25th, 1944 the 17th Airborne remained there until December 23 when they were flown to the Reims area in France. After taking over the defense of the Meuse River sector from Givet to Verdun, December 25th, the 17th moved to Neufchateau, Belgium, then marched through the snow to Morhet, relieving the 28th Infantry Division, January 3, 1945. The Division entered the Ardennes Campaign [Battle of the Bulge], January 4 - 9, at the Battle of Dead Man's Ridge. It captured several small Belgian towns and entered Flamierge, January 7, but enemy counterattacks necessitated a withdrawal. However, constant pressure and aggressive patrolling caused the enemy to retreat to the Ourthe River.(4) It was during the German counterattacks that Private First Class Thomas B. Brittain, Jr. was wounded in action. He was evacuated to a military hospital in France where he died nine days later.
The Champion Newspaper, February 8, 1945, Center, Shelby County, Texas reported his death, “A telegram received Thursday morning by Laurie Brittain from the War Department brought the sad tidings that his brother, Thomas B. Brittain, affectionately known by Center friends as ‘Little Britt’ had died on January 16 in a hospital in France of wounds received in action in Belgium on January 7. The news of his death came as a shock to family and friends as the first report stated that his wounds were not serious. PFC Brittain was with the 17th Airborne (paratrooper). He had been overseas for three months. Surviving relatives are; three brothers, Elza Brittain, Veteran of World War I, Alexandria, Louisiana, Laurie Brittain [Veteran of World War I], Center and Frank Brittain, San Angelo; three sisters, Mrs. Amanda Wilkerson of Camp Worth, Mrs. Harry Hipp, Monroe, Louisiana and Mrs. R. J. Page of San Angelo”.
Little Britt’s comrades would fight on until victory was secured in Europe May 8, 1945, one month after his death. The 17th Airborne suffered 1,191 killed in action during its time in Europe along with another 4,904 wounded in action. On September 16, 1945, the division was officially inactivated at Camp Myles Standish in Taunton, Massachusetts.
World War II ended on September 2, 1945 with the formal surrender of Japan fulfilling the prophecy of the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt who on December 8, 1941 stated, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory”. In the days that followed many American families had to make what was no doubt an extremely tough and heart wrenching decision. To leave their loved ones buried with their comrades in permanent American military cemeteries established on land donated by liberated countries or bring the remains of their loved ones back to the United States and either re-bury them in a local cemetery or in one of the many national cemeteries (such as Arlington) around the country. Beginning in 1947, a program for the repatriation of bodies was initiated and families were given the choice. Robert’s family wanted him to come home as did approximately 60% of other families facing the same decision.(5)
It did not happen overnight as the return of over 171,000 war dead was a massive undertaking. As reported by the New York Daily News, November 17, 1948 “The Army Transport Carroll Victory arrived yesterday with 7,600 American war dead aboard. Seven hundred persons attended the memorial service at the Brooklyn Army Base where Joseph Reich, secretary of the Brooklyn Borough said, ‘these returning heroes gave their lives and paid in full the cost of a true democracy we all so deeply long for’. The 328th Army Band furnished the music for the ceremony. The Carroll Victory brought the 16th and largest group of war dead to date from Europe.” PFC Thomas Bernard Brittain, Jr., serial # 38305266 was one of the 316 Texas war dead aboard the Carroll Victory.
From the Port of Brooklyn, Little Britt’s remains departed by train with a military escort for the final leg of the journey home. The exact date of arrival in Center is undocumented but a reburial service was held in the Fairview Cemetery, Center, Texas with full military honors by the Norman Crocker American Legion Post 284, Center. Day is done, God is nigh.
“That these dead shall not have died in vain…” Abraham Lincoln
Combat Infantryman Badge – Paratrooper Badge Purple Heart – Army Good Conduct Medal – American Campaign Medal European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with bronze service star – World War II Victory Medal 17 Airborne Division Insignia – US Army Seal
References:
(1) Year: 1940; Census Place: Center, Shelby, Texas; Roll: m-t0627-04136; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 210-1
(2) The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Texas, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 171
(3) Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005.
(4) US Army Divisions. “17th Airborne Division.” Accessed April 26, 2021. https://www.armydivs.com/17th-airborne-division
(5) (2) “Repatriation Program.” Accessed February 13, 2021. http://www.in-honored-glory.info/html/repatriation.htm
