In 1927, at the request of his superiors, John W. Thomason, Jr., set out to chronicle the history of the U.S. Army 2nd Division, particularly during the bloody action of 1918. A proven writer with a solid military background through his service in the Marine Corps and at thta time two successful books under his belt, Thomason was a natural choice to write this important document. The project ran into trouble, however, when Thomason made unflattering discoveries regarding command decisions of both Army and Marine officers. His subsequent removal from the project (at his own request) left the document permanently incomplete. Here is Thomason’s manuscript, faithfully reproduced. The work of editor George Clark is deliberately limited to matters of spelling and consistency, with Clark’s comments (clearly set apart from Thomason’s work) present only when necessary for clarification. Clark also includes a short biography of Thomason and a brief historical sketch of the 2nd Division to place the action within the framework of the war as a whole. Illustrations include Thomason’s own maps and drawings originally intended to accompany the work.

The United States Army Second Division Northwest of Chateau Thierry in World War I

History

Thomason, Jr. John W.

Americas

McFarland Company

Whether Colonel Thomason wrote in the first person or third person, he was always a masterful story teller. These stories revolve around John Houston, who was stationed at the Peking Legation, and is one of the most likable fighting men to have appeared in many years. As they said at the legation post, Sergeant Houston was a man to whom things happened, and meeting re-haired Jane Galt was definitely one of the most important of such encounters.  Sergeant Houston's adventures in China are followed by duty in Central America just prior to America's entry into World War Two. These stories add insight to the little known pre-war events that took place in this area of the world. Colonel Thomason was there and wrote and drew of these events.  The return to China as a medically retired Marine was a rumor that circulated around the Marine Corps, but was not a fact.  These stories have appeared in books that are now out of print, but all of them have the crisp sharpness of command. Anyone who likes adventure, good humor and camaraderie of men at arms in far-away places will find it in abundance in these pages.  Born in Texas, a nephew of Longstreet's Chief of Staff, it was only natural that John Thomason should be a soldier, and that he should have written with great knowledge and sympathy of the old days in Texas in "Gone to Texas". He was educated and studied art for two years at the Art Students League in New York City.  Col. John W. Thomason, Jr., found drawing easier than writing and regarded himself as a professional soldier. First commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in 1917. He served in France with great distinction and was awarded the Navy Cross and the Silver Star for heroism in combat action. In spite of severe fighting, however, Col. Thomason found time to use his clever pen and returned to this country with a portfolio of spirited sketches. After the war he wrote many military monographs for the General Staff and wrote a division history for the War Department.  Back in the states in 1925, he went with Laurence Stallings, a fellow leatherneck, to the offices of Scribner's Magazine, portfolio in hand. The result was not only acceptance of the drawings but a commission to write stories to accompany them. And so "Fix Bayonets" came into being. His post-war tours of duty took him to China, Cuba, Central America and to sea with the Special Service Squadron on the USS Rochester, the flagship of General "Blackjack" Pershing. These experiences provided the material for a flood of stories and illustrations about Marines. These stories appeared in magazines like The Saturday Evening Post, Scribner's, The New Yorker and National Geographic. In his stories and drawings, Thomason immortalized the Marines as did Kipling with the British Army in India or as Remington (in another medium) did with the Indian-fighting army of the American Southwest.  Illness prevented Colonel Thomason from leading troops in World War Two, and he died on 12 March 1944 at the Naval Hospital in San Diego. Later that year, the Navy Department named a destroyer, the USS THOMASON, in his honor.

John Houston: Sergeant of Marines

Literature & Fiction

Literary

Dog Ear Publishing, LLC

The Doughboys were the American soldiers who entered the Great War in the last year of the conflict; and of their number the Marine Corps were the absolute elite. The author of this episodic but vivid series of sketches, John W. Thomason, was a Captain in the Corps, descended from a distinguished Southern military family. A natural writer, his colloquial account follows the Marines through France, giving an account of their most famous- and bloodiest - actions, including the Argonne Forest, Belleau Wood, Chateau Thierry, Mont Blanc and St Mihiel. As well as the fighting itself, Thomason is good on off-duty anecdotes. First-hand American accounts of the Great War are rare. This is one of the best. It is profusely illustrated by the author's own excellent drawings

Fix Bayonets!

Military

Naval & Military Press

The Doughboys were the American soldiers who entered the Great War in the last year of the conflict; and of their number the Marine Corps were the absolute elite. The author of this episodic but vivid series of sketches, John W. Thomason, was a Captain in the Corps, descended from a distinguished Southern military family. A natural writer, his colloquial account follows the Marines through France, giving an account of their most famous- and bloodiest - actions, including the Argonne Forest, Belleau Wood, Chateau Thierry, Mont Blanc and St Mihiel. As well as the fighting itself, Thomason is good on off-duty anecdotes. First-hand American accounts of the Great War are rare. This is one of the best. It is profusely illustrated by the author’s own excellent drawings

Naval and Military Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Thomason, Jr. John W.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Thomason, Jr. John W.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Thomason, Jr. John W.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The United States Army Second Division Northwest of Chateau Thierry in World War I

John Houston: Sergeant of Marines

Fix Bayonets!

Fix Bayonets!