Clay secures recognition for Sgt. Thomas Hancock
Special to the American
More than 60 years after the guns of World War II went silent, a local veteran has finally received five medals earned for his heroism in combat. Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) awarded the military decorations to Sgt. Thomas Hancock, (U.S. Army-retired), who served with distinction in an all-black anti-aircraft unit during some of the heaviest fighting of the Allied liberation of Europe in 1944-45.
Sgt. Hancock’s long-overdue recognition was part of Clay’s annual ceremony to honor his St. Louis area nominees who will attend the nation’s prestigious military academies. Hancock, who is a retired machinist, met the congressman several months ago at a union forum on the new Medicare prescription drug program. After the meeting, Hancock told Clay of his extensive service in World War II and his inability to convince the Army to finally send him his missing medals, including five bronze service stars.
Clay ordered his staff to immediately begin an investigation.
With the help of the Army, they were able to verify that indeed,
Sgt. Hancock had been denied the proper recognition that he earned in combat.
In the presence of Hancock’s family, the young service academy nominees, and Army officials, Congressman Clay affixed each medal to Sgt. Hancock’s suit coat. Clay took time to read from Hancock’s remarkable service record.
“Sgt. Hancock landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day plus four and moved inland into northern France. During December of 1944, he fought bravery in the Ardennes Forest during the Battle of the Bulge. In 1945, Sgt. Hancock advanced eastward as part of General George S. Patton’s 3rd Army into Germany where he helped liberate several Nazi death camps.
“On behalf of a grateful nation, it is my honor to present you with the Good Conduct Medal; the Sharpshooter Badge & Rifle Bar; the World War II Victory Medal; the American Campaign Medal; and finally, in lieu of five bronze service stars, Sgt. Thomas Hancock is awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with a Silver Service Star. Thank you for what you and your brave comrades did to save the world.”
Hancock told the audience that he was grateful to have finally received the medals earned so long ago and that he was proud of his service.
“The Army was still segregated back then, but our unit had a great record. The Nazis threw everything they had at us to stop the push into Europe. We shot down plenty of enemy planes and, towards the end of the war, we even knocked out one of their new jet fighters, the Messerschmitt 242,” said Hancock.
“When we got outside of Munich, we overran a place called Dachau. The bodies were stacked up like cordwood. And the people who were still alive looked like walking skeletons. None of us had any idea what a concentration camp was and we couldn’t believe what we saw. It was just pitiful and I will never forget it,” he said.
Clay added, “Your bravery and sacrifice, even in the face of hateful segregation and blatant discrimination, is a tremendous example of devotion to duty that is sure to inspire these outstanding future cadets.”
Clay’s 2006’ U.S. Service Academy nominees include Robert Mandel, who will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; Matthew Ludwig, who will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs; and Lisa Thomure, who will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
