World War II Honoree

Thomas Maxwell Wight

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cairo, Georgia

Honored By

American Legion Post 122

CAMPAIGNS: SICILY AND THE INVASION OF ITALY AT SALERNO. CAPTAIN, COMMANDER COMPANY C, 397TH AIRBORNE ENGINEER BATTALION ATTACHED TO THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION. HE WAS AMONG 800 PARATROOPERS LANDED 14 MILES BEHIND GERMAN LINES. 150 WERE KILLED BEFORE THE OTHERS WERE RESCUED BY THE ADVANCING 5TH ARMY. EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE STARS AND ONE BRONZE ARROWHEAD, PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER (WOUNDED, SICILY, JULY 16, 1943). KILLED IN ACTION NEAR SALERNO, ITALY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1943.