Remembering Lt. Mike Thomas

Comrades From Across Country Visit Hometown of Vietnam Hero

Not many, but certainly across the country, were the men of 2d platoon, India Company, 3d Battalion, 26th Marines, who visited in Pawnee on Friday, July 9, 2004.

Seven Marines gathered in Pawnee to pay their respects to platoon leader Lt. Mike Thomas, who was killed in action on January 20, 1968, on Hill 881 South in the battle of Khe Sanh, South Vietnam.  Casualties were high for the platoon during the battle and the survivors also reminisced about their other fallen comrades during their visit.

Lt. Thomas was the son of Vernell Thomas of Guthrie, and the late Howard Thomas.

The Marines attended the Khe Sanh veterans reunion in Dallas, Texas, last week, then traveled to Pawnee.

While in town, the men visited the Pawnee County Veterans Memorial, and Thomas' grave site at Highland Cemetery.  They came back to town and met in the First National Bank Community Room.

Thomas, a 1961 graduate of Pawnee High School, replaced then Lt. Tom Esslinger of Washington, D.C., as platoon leader, Lt. Esslinger was promoted to Executive Officer of India Company.

Lt. Thomas received the Navy Cross, posthumously, for his action in the Khe Sanh siege.

In the community room a conference call had been set up with Company Commander Colonel Bill Dabney (then a Captain), who was unable to attend the reunion, at his home in Lexington, Virginia.

Dabney said that Mike was a handsome, gallant Marine and a wonderful leader.  "Mike will never be forgotten," Dabney added.

The men adjourned to a local restaurant for a meal.  Steve Thomas, Mike's brother, related that the visiting Marines were appreciative of the reception they received from members of the Pawnee community.

While in Pawnee, the Marines were accompanied by Steve and other Thomas family relatives as they visited various sites.

Besides Esslinger, the Marines included: Cpl. Ray Addington, Dallas Texas; Cpl. Mickey Dominque, Hollister, California; Cpl. Mike Mahone, Chicago, Illinois; PFC. Bob Tipton, Clearwater, Florida; PFC. Gordon Clow, Oregon City, Oregon; and PFC. Kenneth Chilton, Hopkinsville, Kentucky.