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Thomas enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, forerunner to the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], a week after the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], [[Hawaii]]. He was an instructor at the Aircraft Mechanics School at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. He subsequently volunteered for the [[B-29]] flight engineering school and participated in seventeen bombing missions over Japan. On his last flight, his plane was shot down over [[Yokohama, Japan|Yokohama]]. He bailed out and was held prisoner at Kempi Tai police headquarters in [[Tokyo, Japan|Tokyo]]. After the two [[atomic bomb]]s were unleashed on [[Hiroshima, Japan|Hiroshima]] and [[Nagasaki, Japan|Nagasaki]], he was taken to Omori prison camp on a small island in Tokyo Bay.<ref name=Thomas/>

Thomas enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, forerunner to the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], a week after the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], [[Hawaii]]. He was an instructor at the Aircraft Mechanics School at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. He subsequently volunteered for the [[B-29]] flight engineering school and participated in seventeen bombing missions over Japan. On his last flight, his plane was shot down over [[Yokohama, Japan|Yokohama]]. He bailed out and was held prisoner at Kempi Tai police headquarters in [[Tokyo, Japan|Tokyo]]. After the two [[atomic bomb]]s were unleashed on [[Hiroshima, Japan|Hiroshima]] and [[Nagasaki, Japan|Nagasaki]], he was taken to Omori prison camp on a small island in Tokyo Bay.<ref name=Thomas/>

Thomas was liberated in August 1945 by a task force sent by [[Admiral]] [[William F. Halsey]]. He witnessed the signing of the Japanese surrender from his hospital ship on September 2, 1945. Thomas was awarded the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, a Unit Citation, the [[Purple Heart]], the P.O.W. Medal, and the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]].<ref name=Thomas/>

Thomas was liberated in August 1945 by a task force sent by [[Admiral]] [[William F. Halsey]]. He witnessed the signing of the Japanese surrender from his hospital ship on September 2, 1945. Thomas was awarded the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, a Unit Citation, the [[Purple Heart]], the P.O.W. Medal, and the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]].<ref name=Thomas/>

After the war, Thomas and his late brother, Hughes Thomas, opened Thomas Brothers Office Outfitters in Lubbock and operated that business until it was sold in 1991. Thomas served on the Texas Good Roads/Transportation Association for many years and was elected its president from 1983-1984. The association, which has related groups in other states, is the lobbying organization of highway contractors doing business through the Texas Highway Department. Thomas also served on the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce and chaired that group’s Highways, Streets and Roads Committee. He was affiliated with Phi Kappi Psi fraternity, Rotary International, and the First [[United Methodist]] Church in downtown Lubbock.<ref name=Thomas/>

After the war, Thomas and his late brother, Hughes Thomas, opened Thomas Brothers Office Outfitters in Lubbock and operated that business until it was sold in 1991. Thomas served on the Texas Good Roads/Transportation Association for many years and was elected its president from 1983-1984. The association, which has related groups in other states, is the lobbying organization of highway contractors doing business through the Texas Highway Department. Thomas also served on the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce and chaired that group’s Highways, Streets and Roads Committee. He was affiliated with Phi Kappi Psi fraternity, Rotary International, and the First [[United Methodist]] Church in downtown Lubbock.<ref name=Thomas/>