News Article

By: By TOM YANCEY/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
04-18-2005

Gold star flags were presented Sunday to the wife, mother and father of Sgt. Paul Thomason, a 278th Regimental Combat Team soldier who was killed last month in Iraq.

Thomason was a member of Greeneville-based Troop G. The flags were presented by Terressa Holland and her husband Bill, both of Greenback, Tenn.

They began Tennessee’s only chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America just over three months ago.

The Blue Star flag began to be used during World War I, as a symbol to show that a family had someone serving. When a serviceman or woman was killed, the blue star was replaced by a gold one, which typically was hung in a window. The tradition and the organization was very active during World War II, Mrs. Holland said, but had grown much smaller until recently.

Gold stars were presented to Amanda Thomason, the sergeant’s wife; to his mother, Gail Thomas, and his father, Paul Thomason Jr., "as a constant reminder of how precious freedom is," Mrs. Holland said.

U.S. Rep. Bill Jenkins, R-1st, of Hawkins County, spoke at the ceremony, held at the Greeneville National Guard Armory, as did Lt. Col. Frank McCauley, of Kingsport, 278th RCT 2nd Squadron commander, who was home for two weeks of leave. He returns to Iraq later this month.

"Paul Thomason was doing everything his country asked of him," Lt. Col. McCauley said.

"His death was not in vain."

The day that Sgt. Thomason died "was a terrible day, but we got through it," McCauley said.

Like others who spoke, McCauley turned to his right and addressed most of his remarks directly to the family, rather than to the audience of about 100 people who were fanned out in front of him.

"He was such a good guy ... always a big smile," he said. McCauley, a special agent and criminal investigator with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in civilian life, had difficulty controlling his emotions several times during the ceremony.

"I wish we could have brought everybody home, but that was not God’s plan," McCauley said.

As Amanda Thomason nodded agreement, McCauley continued, saying that he believes firmly that when God "takes somebody" from a family, "He also provides a plan to take care of us." He said soldiers in Thomason’s unit had collected money for the family and tried their best to show how much they cared about their fallen comrade.

He told the audience, most of whom were family members of Troop G soldiers, that one of the things he wanted to be sure to convey was “how proud you can be of the men and women of the Second Squadron of the 278th.

"Despite what you see in the news, progress is being made in Iraq," McCauley said. "We see it every day, in the training of Iraqi police, Iraqi soldiers, and the ability of the people to govern themselves."

He said the 278th is "transitioning from combat operations to training Iraqis," and the process is going well.

Though the unit must spend some of its time “clearing routes” of mines and other threats, increasingly its mission is training, McCauley said, with the prospect that the unit will be returning to the United States in October or November.

The Iraqis "are good people," he said, adding, "I didn’t know that until I got there. They want help, but they don’t want you to stay too long, and neither do I." He said the soldiers of the 278th have made every effort to show the Iraqis they are not "an army of occupation," and he believes most Iraqis understand that.

McCauley said that when they return, the soldiers he commands will show their appreciation of the "support" they have received, "all the prayers, all the goody boxes," and communications of any type.

He said many of the treats sent to the soldiers are in turn given to Iraqi children, because "kids are kids are kids, wherever you go."

He offered to deliver any messages or "hugs" to the troops when he returns, and people lined up to talk to McCauley afterward.

Rep. Jenkins Speaks

U.S. Rep. Bill Jenkins, R-1st, of Hawkins County, said, "We’re here today to salute Sgt. Paul Thomason III," but also to pay tribute to those who knew him as an American, a Tennessean, a son, a husband, brother and father.

Addressing the family, Jenkins said, "We can never fully know" their feelings at such a time. But he added, "I hope we can understand."

Jenkins mentioned wartime losses in his own family, and said, "Most of us have had somebody that didn’t come home" from one of the United States' wars.

He told Thomason’s children that they are fortunate to have a strong mother, and he challenged those present to "be thankful for his sacrifice," and to find ways to show it. It’s up to "the rest of us," Jenkins said, to remember the admonition of Abraham Lincoln "to care for those who have borne the battle for their freedom."

He quoted the words of one verse of the military hymn taps, which is played but seldom sung at military funerals. Part of that verse states, "All is well, safely rest, God is nigh."

Jenkins said Sgt. Thomason’s name and memory will be "forever etched in the minds of those who love freedom."

Sun Photo by Tom Yancey - Lt. Col. Frank McCauley, in uniform, speaks Sunday at a "Gold Star" award ceremony at the Greeneville National Guard Armory honoring the family of Sgt. Paul Thomason III, of Jefferson City, a former member of Troop G of the 2nd Squadron of the 278th Regimental Combat Team. McCauley, commander of the 2/278, is home on leave until later this month. Amanda Thomason, Paul Thomason’s widow, is seated just to the left of the American flag, holding a box containing her Gold Star on her lap. She is surrounded by other family members. Terressa Holland, representing the East Tennessee Volunteer Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers, is seated to McCauley’s right. Next to her is Teresa Carey, Troop G’s family support coordinator; U.S. Rep. Bill Jenkins, R-1st, of Hawkins County; and Sgt. Craig Fillers of the Greeneville Police Department.

Story Copyright to The Greeneville Sun