Thomas G Wells
CPT in 23rd Headquarters Co
ASN#293685 Casualty: Killed
Born 1919 in CT (probably), Died 1945
Other residence(s): Chicopee Falls, MA
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Thomas Wells was born on February 27, 1919, most likely in the Manchester, CT area. He enlisted in the Army on January 18, 1940, a month before his 21st birthday.
He married Barbara White from Chicopee Falls, MA. They had a daughter Ruth, born in January, 1944 in Holyoke, MA, while her father was stationed at Camp Forrest in Tennessee.
Capt. Wells, according to the 1945 Official History of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, was the "earnest young headquarters commandant" of the unit. He was killed on March 12, 1945 during Operation Bouzonville when an artillery barrage hit the jeep in which he rode.
Courtesy Robert Danckert
He was buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial; his body was returned to the U.S. in 1949 for reinterment at East Cemetery in Manchester, CT.
He was awarded a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service. His daughter, Ruth Wells Danckert, who never knew her father, was active in organizing reunions and publishing newsletters for the Ghost Army. In addition to her Ghost Army work, Ruth had a varied and accomplished career in journalism and publishing. She passed away in 2012.
Sources:
1944 article in the Springfield Republican (MA) about the birth of his daughter
1945 US headstone applications for military veterans
1945 article in the Springfield Republican (MA) about his death
1945 Official History of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops
https://ghostarmy.org/thearchive/operation-bouzonville/
1949 article in the Springfield Union (MA) about the return of his body to the US
1949 Find a grave record (body moved to US in 1949)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74300271/thomas-g-wells#view-photo=46317730