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LT EDWIN "ED" THOMAS
FORWARD OBSERVER
35th INF REGT & 14th INF REGT
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Edwin
Eugene Thomas, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather,
passed away on February 13th, 2024 in Baxter Springs, Kansas. He was born on
September 12th, 1944 in Miami, Oklahoma to loving parents who instilled in him
the values of hard work and selflessness.
After
serving his country with honor and dedication for six years in the United States
Army, Edwin went on to become a pillar of his community as the founder of World
Mission Builders. His passion for service and devotion to helping others knew no
bounds. He dedicated his life to spreading the word of God and God’s love
through his mission work, building over 367 churches, orphanages, bible
colleges, etc. Baptizing over 307,000 people in over 50 countries through the
years. Preformed over 100 marriages.
Edwin's
impact extended far beyond his professional endeavors. He was a devoted family
man who cherished every moment spent with those he held dear. His wife Pat stood
by his side through thick and thin; their bond was unbreakable. Together they
raised three wonderful children: Becky Brown, Susan Womack, and Tommy Thomas.
His
son-in-law Bobby Womack became like a son to him over the years while Jennifer
Thomas became an integral part of their family when she married into it. Edwin
adored each one of them as if they were his own flesh and blood.
The
light of Edwin's life shone brightly through the eyes of his grandchildren:
Kyleigh Brock, Nicole Thomas, Raygun Buzzard; as well as great-grandchildren
Leighton Brock and Everleigh Brock - all whom he loved dearly.
Edwin
will be remembered not only for what he accomplished but also for how he lived -
always putting others before himself without expecting anything in return. His
unwavering faith guided him throughout every trial that came his way.
Funeral
services will be held at Derfelt Funeral Homes in Baxter Springs on Monday
February 19th at 10:00 am where friends and family can gather together to
celebrate Edwin's remarkable life while finding solace in each other during this
difficult time.
In
lieu of flowers or gifts please consider making donations to World Mission
Builders or any charity close to your heart that reflects Edwin’s spirit of
giving back.
May
we find comfort knowing that although our hearts ache from missing him here on
earth – heaven is rejoicing because another angel has come home.
“I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all
them also that love his appearing.“
2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV
Funeral Service
Monday,
February 19, 2024
10:00AM
Derfelt
Funeral Home - Baxter Springs
328 E. 12th St., , P.O. Box 616
Baxter Springs, KS 66713
TRIBUTES:
Lt Ed Thomas was an excellent FO, providing fire support for units of the 35th and 14th Infantry Regiments. He was a model soldier, always ready and willing to help his fellow man. The world has been blessed with Ed's accomplishments after he returned home from the war in Vietnam. His obituary tells the story of a very devoted man to both God and country. He was a regular at the 35th Infantry Regiment Reunions and he will be sadly missed by his many friends. I had the great pleasure of having lunch with Ed in Charlotte, NC. I knew it may be the last time I saw him since his 3+ year battle with cancer; the doctors were running out of options to save this wonderful man. God Bless You, Ed! Rest in Peace; you will be remembered always.
Lt Dennis Dauphin, FO, 2/9th FA
Ed Thomas:
I
first met and learned about Ed Thomas at the Cacti Reunions some years back. He
was someone I will never forget.
As
a fellow FO, we shared some similar experiences, and he most always found a way
to turn a serious topic into a humorous anecdote. But after his legendary time
in Vietnam, I came to learn more about who he was and what he became and
accomplished in the aftermath. I learned about his foundation,
“World Mission Builders” and was able to see firsthand what he was all
about.
My
wife and I met up with Ed in the Philippines when I learned that he had and was
building churches and schools there. We met several times in Cebu where we liked
to stay, and we traveled with Ed to the Philippine island of Bohol, where he had
built a church and a school a few years earlier. The island of Bohol was where
my wife’s parents were from. We toured the church and school with Ed and met
with the Pastor and schoolteachers and saw the young adults in class. The whole
experience left a memorable impression on me as to who Ed Thomas really was.
To
look at his life Post Nam, it was extraordinary: from the Hell of Combat and the
taking of life to dedicating the rest of his life to saving life. He did it all
in Service to the Lord, bringing thousands of lives to the light of Jesus Christ
through planting churches and schools in many countries. I cannot think of a
greater accomplishment that one could ascribe to and achieve in one’s life.
Ed
Thomas is a Brother whom I truly admire, respect and will never forget.
Ed,
your work is done.
May
you rest in peace, for you are blessed with the Lord’s Crown of Glory.
Amen
Forward
Observer/Air Observer
2/9th FA
New
in country, I still remember Ed finding me in my tent, loading up my pack for a
short flight to Charlie Company, 1/35, the next day. He lifted the pack,
laughed hilariously, and said, “Do you think you can carry this out in the
boonies?” I said “Sure!” In complete ignorance of what that really meant.
He said, “Well, let’s just look at what you got in here.” And opened the
backpack. He removed the extra pants, two shirts, several pairs of home-dyed
jockey shorts and three home-dyed tee shirts, He took out the deodorant and said
“You won’t need this shit and it’s just in the way. When you get in shape
for humping the boonies, you might consider getting a backpack but, until then,
you need to travel light.” When I said I would need all that stuff, he asked
if I wanted to carry it when it was three times heavier and soaking wet. I began
to understand. By the time he finished, everything I was taking with me out to
the field fit into a sandbag and consisted mostly of ammo….and extra socks. He
had me pick up his pack and we walked around the area until I understood how out
of shape and unprepared I really was.
Periodically,
Ed would drop in on Charlie Company and check on me. I think he saved my life
shortly after Tet, 1968. After a terrible event where the orphaned little boy I
was working to adopt from the nearby refugee camp was tortured to death during
the Tet attack on January 31, I was suicidal and went back to the field without
permission. Ed found me and convinced me that my death by combat might end my
torment but would probably cause others in the company to get killed, too.
One of my favorite memories of Ed was during a reunion a few years ago. He began telling the story of how I mistakenly attacked a US Navy LST ship on a covert mission at night, blowing off the wheelhouse, and causing the ship to be steered back to the nearest port through the ships engine room. The nearest port was Duc Pho, where we were based. I had blanked that event out of my memory until Ed began recounting the story to the entire group. He ended the story with the rebuke the next morning from LTC Bobzein, the battalion CO: “Good shooting, Landau, but you gotta work on your target identification.” With the assembled reunion group laughing their heads off at my error, I have to admit that it was the most embarrassing moment of my life. But I certainly earned every word of Ed’s story. It took years for me to remember that event and chuckle about it, too.
Lt
Bert G. Landau
FORWARD OBSERVER, C/1/35
2/9th FA
A
DEDICATED SOLDIER: Refused medical attention, stays in the Field
by Lt Bert Landau
Sometime
in late 1967, I saw the aftermath of Lt Ed Thomas getting hit in the head by
some mortar fragment or shell fragments. It looked like they hit him on the side
of his head. When I saw him, he was just arising from being knocked out.
This occurred in the Duc Pho AO, Republic of Vietnam.
I
remember this incident because,
as Lt Thomas was recovering from the injury, it would be normal for people to be
pretty frightened at all the blood on his shirt. He just looked at it and asked
whether all his limbs were still attached. Then he laughed and said, if it was
just a hit in the head, nothing much was damaged. .
After
the other guys in the bunker pulled Lt Thomas out and were examining him, he was
confused for a while but adamant that, if it was just a hit in the head, he
would be just fine. He sounded pretty confused for quite a while after Doc
patched him up but didn’t seem concerned about the obvious wound. Ed refused
medical evacuation and the company commander, after watching Thomas stand up and
walk around, agreed. I thought that we probably should have ignored him and sent
him in to the nearest Evac station - that was a lot of blood! The medic said
that the shrapnel didn't appear to have penetrated LT Thomas's skull, so he was
bandaged and allowed to remain with his unit.
Later,
I heard him complain about bad headaches and a buzzing and clicking noise in his
ears. But he did act differently. He had always been a master jokester -
sometimes, it was annoying but stopping one of his tall tales was just about
impossible, especially if they were about someone else. That disappeared. He was
impatient and quick to anger over little things. Something was wrong. Lt Thomas
had become pretty cranky and easily offended. He had never been that way before.
He
never went back to the medical unit for treatment so he did not receive a Purple
Heart for that incident. He should have received that award but, in refusing
Medivac, it was probably never reported.
Brother Ed Thomas
Bill
Farmer, Kermit DeVaughn and myself arrived at the 2nd/9th HQ on the same day in
1966. After checking in we were turned over to Ed Thomas for briefing.
I'll never forget that day and the connection I made with Ed immediately.
His humor and obvious knowledge of what we would be facing were evident from the
start. To make a long story short, Ed and I developed a personal friendship that
has lasted ever since.
We
had always said we would go to Sturgis our 80th year which would have been this
August. I'm sad we couldn't make it but even if I can go I know he'll be
there. A better friend I've never had and will miss him dearly.
Rest
in peace my brother.
Gary
Dean