Marine Lance Cpl. Barry Don Thomas, 19, of Lyons, Colorado, died Sunday, May 7th, as the result of wounds he received while fighting with the Second Marine Division on Hill 881 in South Vietnam Friday, May 5th, the Defense Department announced today.

He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Thomas, of Box 434, Lyons, Colorado. Mr. Thomas is a painting contractor.

Cpl. Thomas was born in Mountain Air, New Mexico. He spent his early life there and in Kermit, Texas, before coming to the Longmont area in 1955. He lived with his parents in Longmont and Berthoud before the family moved to Lyons about 15 months ago. He attended Longmont High School before joining the Marines.

Cpl. Thomas came from a military family. His father served with the U.S. Navy during World War II, and his brother served in the Air Force for two years.

Before joining the Marines, Cpl. Thomas worked at odd jobs and at the Loveland Packing Company. Cpl. Thomas enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1965. He took his basic training in San Diego, Calif. and had advanced combat training in Okinawa before going to Vietnam. He turned nineteen years old one week before he was killed. Cpl. Thomas was attached to Echo Company of the Third Marines.

When assigned to Vietnam, he drove a jeep for a supply company, but was later transferred to an infantry division. Cpl. Thomas had been in Vietnam about nine months before he was shot. According to his grandfather, Robert C. Thomas, Cpl. Thomas had been back in action for about 10 days after a two month rest.

His grandfather said the corporal was shot once before, but the bullet went through his jacket, and didn't wound him. According to his grandfather, Cpl. Thomas "was very anxious to go to Vietnam. He wanted to help win the war." 

Cpl. Thomas is survived by his parents, one brother, Ray C., of Erie, Colorado; one sister, Geneva, of Lyons, Colorado, one grandfather, Robert C. Thomas, and two other grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ted James, of Kermit, Texas. 

The body is being returned to Longmont. Lewellen Funeral Home is handling the arrangements which will be announced later.

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