Thomas H. Sands
18134477 Technical Sergeant
496th Fighter Group Aerial Gunner
United States Army Air Force
1942-1945

     Thomas (Tommy) Hugh Sands was born 31 August 1921 at Wynne, Arkansas, the son of Heman and Bertha Irene Watson Sands. He had one sister, Naomi, and two brothers, J.D. and Jimmy. Tommy was in college when he enlisted 5 August 1942. He entered on active duty status 14 June 1943 at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas.
    Tommy fought in Northern France; Ardennes; Rhineland and Central Europe. He received the European African Middle Eastern Ribbon; the Good Conduct Medal; and Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters on 23 October 1944.
   Tommy shared with us a paragraph from the I March 1995 European Newspaper: "Yesterday was the 50th Anniversary of the American troops crossing the Rhine into Germany effectively sealing the eventual fate of the German Army. The Germans had, by mistake, not blown up a railroad bridge covering their retreat and this allowed the American troops to cross and set-up a floating bridge. Just as this move was ending the railroad bridge which had a lot of bomb damage collapsed killing 25 Army Engineers. However, by then the transport bridge was secure and Eisenhower sent over 150,000 troops across to march through Germany to Frankfurt and later Berlin. Did you know that we sent 11,000 airplanes, 6,000 ships and watercraft and a million men to Europe
the war? The chances of survival in Europe was about 70% for a soldier as opposed to 20% for those in the Pacific. The exceptions were for submarine crews at about 75% loss rate and long range bombers at about 45%. The British were amazed at the courage of the American flyers as they would fly daytime bombing raids into the heart of Germany at tremendous loss rates while everyone else would only make night runs. Of course the British had their own brand of courage as, while American crew could fly 20 missions and, if they were lucky, go home; the British, having less people available, generally flew until they were shot down or killed."
    Tommy was discharged 16 October 1945 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. Since then he has worked for the Delta Air Lines and International Paper Company. He is married to Margaret Ann Higgs and they have no children. His hobbies are golfing and fishing.