Editor’s Note: This is the fourth article in a week-long series dedicated to WW II Veterans.

World War II had a significant impact on everyone it touched. Whether it be those who actually fought in the war, or those who held down the family home, World War II has affected the lives of many in such profound and worldly ways.

According to military statistics, 1,150 World War II veterans die each day, yet the memory of their sacrifices continues to live on and inspire those who only know of war through books, television, pictures and the spoken word.

Raymond Dexter Thomas, of Lee County, Va., was born on January 31, 1923, in Baxter, Ky. He graduated from Thomas Walker High School in 1941, and was employed at Jellico Grocery in Harlan before military enlistment.

Thomas entered the United States Army on January 28, 1943, and served with the 479th Ordnance Evacuation Company in Great Britain, France, and Germany. After indoctrination and basic training, he was sent to a specialized school at the General Motors Company in Detroit, Mich., and successfully completed mechanics school within six weeks.

After graduation, Corporal Thomas traveled to England on a banana boat from South America called the S.S. Argentina. He departed from New York City and arrived in Liverpool, England in mid-1943.

Thomas spent most of his service time stationed in England working on and operating tanks. He said that a vast majority of the time he lived in his tank, and recalled sleeping on the tank’s motor many nights to keep warm.

One of his most memorable moments while stationed in Plymouth, England, was an encounter with General Dwight D. Eisenhower. He spoke about what a “normal” man he truly was, and said that Eisenhower personally encouraged him and his fellow soldiers to write home every chance they got, because the immediate future was unknown.

“He knew what he was talking about,” stated Thomas. “I’ll tell you the truth ... you liked to get letters but you didn’t like to write them.”

Thomas was involved in several campaigns throughout Europe, and he spoke about his Battle of the Bulge experience. He contended that the battle — which began on December 16, 1944 — was considered by many to be the last German counteroffensive. Thomas spoke about the harsh winter weather in which the battle was fought in:

“Whenever people said it was one of the worst winters in 40 years over there, they knew what they were talking about,” said Thomas. “There was snow up to my knees.”

After the war, Thomas left out of England on December 9, 1945, and explained that the trip home was a “sentimental journey.” He said that the trip back to the United States took 23 days, and was stalled by a tropical storm. Living conditions aboard the ship was poor, as there was only enough supplies for two weeks, because of that many soldiers returning from the battlefields were left hungry and psychically broken.

“I don’t know how we made it,” Thomas said.

Thomas was honorably discharged on January 4, 1946, at Fort Meade in Maryland. After the brutal journey back to the States, he arrived in Big Stone Gap, Va., and called his mother to let her know that he was home.

“Have the soup beans and cornbread ready, because I’m coming home,” Thomas said to his mother. She, of course, was elated.

After the military, Thomas worked for 65 years at H.T. Hackney Company in Middlesboro, and married the love of his life, Fern Payne of Lee County. They were married for 55 years, two months and seven days, at the time of her untimely death.

When asked about his time in World War II, he simply said “It was worth it, because that was a war we had to win.”

Staff Writer Adam Young is can be contacted by e-mail at ayoung@middlesborodailynews.com.