George S. Thomas, a career U.S. Army veteran with a distinguished career, including multiple tours in Vietnam, passed away on October 26, 2021, surrounded by family. “The” Sergeant Major (SGM), as he was known to many, was born July 21, 1943, in Macon, Georgia, to Chalmers and O’Meara (Sessions) Thomas. He attended Willingham High School before enlisting in the U.S. Army.
During his 25 years with the Army, he served as an Infantry Soldier with various units, including being the SGM for the VII Corps G3, a British-trained Combat Tracker, Nurse Recruiter and Career Counselor, and an Instructor at the U.S. Army Adjutant General School and the Sergeants Major Academy.
The U.S. Army recognized SGM for his honorable service with many medals and decorations, including a Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He also earned a shooting badge from the German Army for winning a shooting competition.
In 1984, the U.S. Army assigned the SGM to Texas A&M University as an Army ROTC Sergeant Major and Military Science Instructor. It was during this two-year assignment he found his next career calling. Upon retirement from the Army in 1986, he began a 13-year stint as a civilian employee at Texas A&M leading the Corps of Cadets Housing Office. In addition, he served as Advisor to the Ross Volunteer Company, the Aggie Bonfire Redpots, and to Corps Staff, among others. For over a decade SGM was the official announcer for all Corps Military Reviews–a role that earned him the title "Voice of the Corps." During the entire 15-year second career at A&M he was a friend and mentor to hundreds of cadets whom he loved like his own children, taking them fishing or hunting and, hosting them in his home for a home cooked meal and entertainment with the help of his incredible wife, Swantje, who loved to cook for cadets. He was the ultimate mentor and was every cadet’s best friend, always ready when they needed help, but possessing an innate ability to strike fear deep into the heart of even the most stolid cadet with little to no effort.
George was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Swantje, and his parents. He is survived by his three daughters, Moy (Joe) Horn, Angela (Bill) Jones and Chrissy (Mark) Abraham; nine grandchildren, Stephanie, Shandi, Justin, Travis, Brooke, Bobby, Brady, Bella and George; and three great grandchildren, Jack, Skylar and Jrüe.
A graveside service will be held at the Aggie Field of Honor on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 11:00 am.
Memorial donations may be made to the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets Association at www.corpsofcadets.org or K-9s For Warriors at www.k9sforwarriors.org.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Thomas family
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