Thomas J. Vezina

KIA on this day in 1944

Today we commemorate Thomas J. Vezina, who was KIA on this day, 81 years ago.

Thomas was born on March 16, 1914 in Fall River, Massachussetts. He married Mary Repko in 1942, while he was already in the army. They got one son together, Thomas Jr.

Thomas enlisted in the 384th Bomber Group (H) of the 545th Bomber Squadron. He flew 18 missions in total during the Second World War.

On this day in 1944, their mission was to bomb an aircraft assembly plant in Brunswick (Braunschweig) in Germany. The plane was attacked by German Focke Wulf-190's. The plane, 'We Dood It' burst into flames and began falling away from formation. They still succeeded to drop their bombs on the target and crashed moments later in Meinsen-Minden in Germany. Only three crew members got out alive.

Thomas is now buried at the Ardennes American cemetery. I adopted Thomas' grave in November of 2013 and am honoured to have met his son Tom, his daughter-in-law Kathy and his granddaughter Kyra through Facebook and hope to meet them someday at the grave of Thomas Vezina in Belgium.

Lest we forget

The full story of Thomas Vezina:

Thomas Joseph Vezina