Welcome Home, Pvt. Charles E. Thomas #POW

Welcome Home, Pvt. Charles E. Thomas #POW Today, as you'll see in this video, our hero made his final journey home, from Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, through Dallas, Texas, and at last to his family here in California. Pvt. Thomas is a hometown hero of Ontario, California, and after more than 84 years, he is finally home to be laid to rest. A heartfelt thank you to the American Airlines Honor Team at Dallas Fort Worth. They go above and beyond for every fallen service member who passes through DFW on the way home, and today was no exception. Thank you also to the American Airlines staff, Ontario Airport Police, USO Ontario, Ontario Fire, the Patriot Guard Riders, the U.S. Army Honor Guard, and everyone who came out to honor Pvt. Thomas and his family. *About Pvt. Charles E. Thomas* Charles grew up in Ontario with his mother, stepfather, and siblings. He entered the U.S. Army Air Forces in California and served with the 7th Chemical Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, in the Philippines. After American forces surrendered the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942, he was taken prisoner and forced to endure the Bataan Death March. He died at Cabanatuan Prison Camp on July 5, 1942, and was buried in a communal grave alongside fellow American POWs. About 2,800 Americans died at Cabanatuan before its liberation in 1945. After the war, remains that could not be identified were buried as Unknowns at the Manila American Cemetery. In 2019 and 2020, as part of the Cabanatuan Project, remains from Common Grave 409 were sent to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) laboratory for identification. On May 19, 2026, DPAA announced that Pvt. Thomas had been identified. He has been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Prisoner of War Medal, among other honors. He is survived by five nieces and nephews and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Welcome home, soldier. You were never forgotten. 🇺🇸 #HonoringOurFallen #NeverForgotten #NeverForget #WelcomeHome #BataanDeathMarch #DPAA