World War II Honoree

Thomas Patterson Baskin, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Anderson, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

ENLISTED AS A PRIVATE ON NOVEMBER 27, 1942. HE TRAINED WITH THE 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION, WAS APPOINTED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AND ON FEBRUARY 11, 1944 WAS COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT AT FORT BENNING. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO COMPANY A OF THE 60TH INFANTRY OF THE 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION, WHICH WAS SHIPPED TO EUROPE LATER IN 1944. FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTION ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1944, HE RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR, AND HE RECEIVED A BATTLEFIELD PROMOTION TO 1ST LIEUTENANT ON NOVEMBER 12, 1944 FOR LEADING INITIAL ATTACKS AGAINST THE SIEGFRIED LINE IN GERMANY. ON THE EARLY MORNING OF MARCH 8, 1945, THEN IN TEMPORARY COMMAND OF COMPANY A, HE CROSSED THE REMAGEN BRIDGE INTO GERMANY ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER OFFICER AND A SERGEANT. THIS WAS AHEAD OF THE CAPTURE OF THE BRIDGE BY THE 9TH ARMORED DIVISION. FROM 1944 TO 1945 HE PARTICIPATED IN FIVE CAMPAIGNS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, WAS WOUNDED ON MARCH 15, 1945 AND WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY ON MARCH 2, 1946 WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN AND TWO PURPLE HEARTS.