The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel William G. Thrash (MCSN: 0-6141), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Plane and Tactical Officer of Marine Aircraft Group TWELVE in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 25 October 1951. Encountering twenty-four hostile MiG-15 jet aircraft while leading his flight of eleven Corsair planes on a strike against a strategic enemy railroad marshalling yard, Lieutenant Colonel Thrash coolly closed his flight and led it in an aggressive attack on the hostile jets, forcing them to break off the engagement and retire. Upon reaching the target area, he skillfully directed and coordinated repeated attacks on the enemy strong point and, despite the intense hostile anti-aircraft fire encountered at all altitudes, pressed his own assaults at extremely low levels in order to obtain greater accuracy. By his daring leadership and gallant fighting spirit, he served to inspire his flight in scoring direct hits on a locomotive, freight cards and railroad tracks, thereby seriously damaging a vital link in the enemy’s supply system. His marked courage and unswerving devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Colonel Thrash and the United States Naval Service.
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Awards Received
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Lieutenant GeneralAction Date:
March 1971 – June 1972
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant General William G. Thrash (MCSN: 0-6141), United States Marine Corps, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico, Virginia, from March 1971 to June 1972. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Thrash culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Marine Corps.
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Lieutenant ColonelRegiment:
1st Marine Aircraft WingDivision:
Prisoner of War (Korean War)Action Date:
December 21, 1951 – September 5, 1953
NARA Database: Repatriated Korean Conflict Prisoners of War, 7/5/1950 – 10/6/1954Lieutenant Colonel William G. Thrash (MCSN: 0-6141), United States Marine Corps, was held as a Prisoner of War after he was shot down and captured during the Korean War on 21 December 1951 and was held until his release on 5 September 1953.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major William G. Thrash (MCSN: 0-6141), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Lieutenant ColonelRegiment:
Marine Aircraft Group 12Division:
1st Marine Aircraft WingAction Date:
July 16 – November 26, 1951
Heroes U.S. Marine Corps, 1861 – 1955: Jane Blakeney(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel William G. Thrash (MCSN: 0-6141), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving as Tactical Officer of Marine Aircraft Group TWELVE in Korea during the period from 16 July through 26 November 1951.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Lieutenant ColonelDivision:
Prisoner of War (Korean War)Action Date:
May 15, 1952 – September 1, 1953
Heroes U.S. Marine Corps, 1861 – 1955: Jane BlakeneyThe President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Colonel William G. Thrash (MCSN: 0-6141), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Senior United Nations Officer in First and Second Companies, Prisoner of War Camp 2, Ping-chong-ni, North Korea, during the period 15 May 1952 to 1 September 1953. Although warned by the Chinese that any attempt on his part to exert his personal influence on other prisoners would be dealt with by disciplinary action and also being aware that the senior officer was under continually close surveillance, Lieutenant Colonel Thrash immediately took concrete steps to organize the prisoners on a military basis and to tighten discipline among them. By his personal integrity, exemplary conduct, and wise leadership, he quickly won the respect and support of all the prisoners of various nationalities who comprised the camp’s inmates. His actions were directly responsible for the good relations among all the prisoners, for the cohesive resistance to communist efforts to cause the defection of the individuals to the camp, and for the maintenance of military discipline in the camp. As a result of his outstanding contributions as senior United Nations officer in the camp, he was placed in solitary confinement for a period of eight months and subjected to various types of maltreatment. Lieutenant Colonel Thrash’s conduct throughout his long period of imprisonment gained the admiration and warm regard of the prisoners and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Legion of Merit
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant General William G. Thrash (MCSN: 0-6141), United States Marine Corps, was awarded a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States.
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Major GeneralRegiment:
1st Marine Aircraft WingAction Date:
July 1969 – June 1970
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major General William G. Thrash (MCSN: 0-6141), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding General, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in the Republic of Vietnam from July 1969 to June 1970. His singularly distinctive accomplishments and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.