Gerald Carthrae Thomas was born on October 29, 1894, in Slater, Saline County, Missouri. He was married to Lottie Palmer Capers Johnson Thomas. Gerald enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 28, 1917. He completed boot camp at Parris Island and joined the 1st Battalion 6th Marines.

Thomas served in World War I with the 6th Marines, earning the Silver Star and a Purple Heart. He later fought in Haiti and held various command roles before joining the 1st Marine Division in World War II, where he played a key role in the Guadalcanal and Bougainville campaigns, earning the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. During the Korean War, he led the 1st Marine Division in the Battle of the Punchbowl, securing strategic terrain and strengthening UN defensive lines. His leadership earned him the Army Distinguished Service Cross and Army Distinguished Service Medal before he became assistant commandant of the Marine Corps.

Thomas retired from the Marine Corps and was promoted to general on January 1, 1956. From 1957 to 1958, he was the first director of the National Security Council (NSC) Net Evaluation Subcommittee (NESC). Gen. Thomas died on April 7, 1984, and is now buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Source of information: en.wikipedia.org