Johnie B Thomas

Sergeant
527TH MP CO, 716TH MP BN, 89TH MP GRP, USARV
Army of the United States
24 December 1942 - 31 January 1968
Detroit, Michigan
Panel 36E Line 039

USARV

18TH MP BDE
Military Police

Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Johnie B Thomas

21 Nov 2005

I came too see you the morning of Nov.11,2005. I was in D.C. for the Marine Corps and my Dad asked me to look you guys up for him. My Dad was there the day you died. He has never forgotten you guys, one day I'll bring him to see you also.

George H. Fleming II

A Note from The Virtual Wall

The Tet Offensive began on 31 Jan 1968. In Saigon, some 4,000 Viet Cong troops attacked a number of US and RVN installations, including the American Embassy where four MPs from the 527th MP Company were killed:
  • SGT Johnie B. Thomas, Detroit, MI
  • SP4 Charles L. Daniel, Nelson, VA
  • SP4 Owen E. Mebust, Manhattan Beach, CA (Bronze Star "V")
  • CPL William M. Sebast, Albany, NY
The 716th MP Bn history on the Fort Campbell web site contains the following information:
"The most famous action during the TET offensive occurred at the U.S. Embassy where SPC Charles Daniel and PFC William Sebast of the 527th Military Police Company were augmenting the Marine security detail. At 0247 hours, Viet Cong sappers blew a hole in the embassy compound's perimeter wall and attacked through the breach. SPC Daniel and PFC Sebast radioed for help and engaged the attacking Viet Cong. They were able to kill the first two attacking sappers before being shot down. Two MPs who responded to the calls for help, SGT Jonnie Thomas and SPC Owen Mebust, were ambushed and killed as they approached the embassy compound."
Corporal James C. Marshall, a Marine from E Company, Marine Security Guard Battalion, also was killed in action while defending the Embassy.




Top of Page

Virtual Wall icon
www.VirtualWall.org

Back to
To alpha index T
MI State Index . Panel 36E
18TH MP BDE Index

Contact Us



With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 08/10/2009