WWII Airborne Legend: 336 Days in Combat and Wounded 4 Times | 101st Airborne | Tom Rice
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 มิ.ย. 2024
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Thomas M. Rice was born in a small wooden shack in Coronado, California in 1921. A graduate of Coronado High School in 1940, Tom joined the U.S. Army at Fort Rosecrans near San Diego. In 1943, he attended Camp Toccoa, Georgia before being sent to the Air Force Troop School at Fort Benning.
After 18 months of training, he joined the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) of the legendary 101st Airborne Division and was shipped overseas to participate in the D-Day invasion. Normandy would offer Rice his first taste of combat, but it certainly wouldn't be his last.
Tom Rice would spend a total of 336 days in combat participating in Operation Overlord, Operation Market Garden, The Battle of the Bulge, and helping to capture Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden. During this time Rice would be wounded on four separate occasions.
Thomas M. Rice passed away on November 17, 2022.
Interview recorded on November 6, 2021
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Gets shot in the leg, pulls the round out and sticks it in his pocket. These men were a different breed.
There's only 120,000 WW2 veterans still alive as of 2024. Cherish all of these priceless moments and stories.
Shocked there's that many
@@SigmaNuHE481me too
Thankfully some organizations are getting their stories before they are lost forever. Too bad there isn’t more of the WW1 & civil war soldiers stories
Damn 120k?? I didn't think we had that many left.. But within the next 5 yrs that number will probably drop bigtime
Everyone of them should be interviewed!
This man's memory and the amount of detail given is impressive.
I do know my name at 67.😁😁😁😁😁
Veteran's accounts should be taken with a grain of salt. Vietnam vets tell a lot of made up bs themselves and they are younger than WW2 vets.
@@jimshoe402Unlike our fearless leader. 😂😂😂
Just couldn't resist bringing our sh*tty politics into this could you? @@pickititllneverheal9016
He probably relives it every day.
This hero had 6 inches of arm bone wrecked, and he still insisted on going back to fight in just a couple of weeks. Now that's Tough! Thank you for your service!
30 year old with a full hip replacement… I’d have to agree:::
The fight in so many WWII soldiers was unbelievable, they fought relentlessly like demons every step of the way.
We often think of how hard the fight was from the Allied perspective but it must have been horrifying for the Axis powers. No matter what they threw at the Allies, they kept on coming like unstoppable Terminators. Hopefully they were shitting themselves in terror as the walls closed in, for inflicting WWII upon the world
God bless him. He told me his last wish was to live until he was 100 years old and make his last jump at 100. On his 100th birthday, he did just that, with the support of many local Coronadans and vets of the 101st.
Amazing 👏
What a MAN. He remembers names, dates, places from 80 years ago and I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast! Men like Mr. Rice were the true heroes of our nation. He and others like him, won the peace that we enjoyed for so long. God bless you sir and thank you for your story, from an 83 year old USAF retired MSGT.
Nobody actively trying to KILL you while you're eating breakfast!!!!!! When you're in a adrenaline situation it imprints memory
Right, he even remembered the two guys names who jumped into France right after he jumped, weight, dates, landing zone..knew the gal was a spy, said 50k Americans up the road..unreal brave and memory
All I can say is that having an individual like this, I war hero, is a reason why we have freedom today, although some of that freedom is being diminished as we speak
Now kids are fighting for whatever narrative they're told is the correct one. I wish young people would open their eye's.
I was fortunate to meet Tom Rice on many occasions in San Diego at various fundraising events and celebrations here in the San Diego area.His memories on D-Day and other battles he was in were like it happened yesterday. It was great to see him and hear his voice again he is sorely missed. We should never forget what the greatest generation did for our freedom and always cherish their memories
Amen
Goddam, after so so many years this guy didnt forget nothing, his memory is better then mine at 35 years old. What a great generation of heroes.
I'm always blown away by these veteran accounts. If still alive, these men are at least 98 years old. Mr. Rice survived nearly a year of combat but was also able to live a long, hopefully peaceful and prosperous life -- all the while being blessed with a fantastic memory. Whether a blessing or luck, to live for so long -- and through so much-- is RARE. Thank you, AVC, for recording these memories for future generations.
I TINK only one unit did the Mohawk all Nuts F the Army they said..🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
You could in fact be 97 if your parents signed off at age 17 like my dad. You could in fact be a very old 96 as of June 2026 and still have seen WW2 service. But yes, good for their longevity.
One of the features of war is the trauma it leaves on its participants...you always hear them say that they wake up screaming. Or they'll hear a sound or smell something and it takes them back 'there'. They will never forget.
It's wild how he is not telling a story here, he is reliving a past that never left him. Incredible man indeed.
Yes, and he's still proud of those 1 armed push ups, and the boiling mad staff Sargent lol.
What a National Treasure... You can see in his eyes, and face how hard his Fathers Death still hits him. These interviews are excellent, no annoying background music, or constant interruptions from the proctor. SUBSCRIBED !
This man was clearly promoted to leadership positions quickly. Hearing him describe what it takes to be a good leader, the first 3 words he says... "Diligence, awareness, compassion." What a leader he must've been, and clearly still is. The way he threw out the word "salubrious" so casually to describe the climate in southern California was remarkable. We are so fortunate in the USA to have men such as this - and to think our society was once capable of producing men like this by the 1000s - times have certainly changed! Thank you sir and God Bless.
They truly were the greatest generation.
Really interesting account. It's great to hear a veteran tell such a detailed account. He does have an amazing memory. What a hero he is.
I’m sure having such a traumatic experience at such a young age would be imbedded into your memory for the rest of your life. If you survived. I’ve heard other WW2 veterans say. After getting through D-Day that the rest of his life was easy street. Never worried about anything or cared about repercussions. Think of what you were doing at 19,20,21 and I couldn’t imagine playing life or death war with real bullets and soldiers trying to kill you. I was worried if I had enough gas to get to the beach.
"They paid us extra for jumping..."
This got a chuckle from me. In 1971, we were paid an extra 55 bucks a month jump pay.
And I bet you blew it on fast women and booze! 👍😎 (as you should).
Thank you for your service! My grandfather flew hueys 69-73!
Thank you AVC and the veterans. ❤
Great guy…reminds me of my Dad. 529th Engineering and Light Pontoon Company of 3rd Army (General George Patton Commander). He was 22 years old.
Wow. His recollection is amazing. Names, places, rivers.... I don't even remember what I had for breakfast this morning. What an amazing man with amazing memories.
This guys mind is still sharp as a razor blade!
I loved Tom Rice! I was lucky enough to travel back to Europe with him twice!
What an amazing memory in detail this man had with dates time roads cities etc! God bless him!
What a great guy. I worked union construction with alot of these dudes. Lunch time was story time.
I always wonder about how they were able to recall all this detail. Then it hits me that they carried the burden of remembering all this carnage and trauma for the remainder of their days, that these memories probably tormented their dreams every night. They damned themselves for the peace of others and that degree of sacrifice is hard to quantify.
Well said. My dad was on a bomber in ww2. He never talked about. He was mean, tough and very distant from his kids. I saw him do some very cruel things to the animals on his ranch--mainly cruel neglect. If I had known what he went through in the war I would have forgiven him for everything.
This man's recollection is as if he was being debriefed hours after these events he experienced almost 80 years ago!! Just amazing!
Just a simple old man that went beast mode for a couple years 😊
Blessed with a keen survival instinct and well trained.
You just can't help loving the old ww2 vets they talk about the war like it was any other day complete understated heroics humble to the core and just great men thank you all for giving us a future we might not have had 🏴💪🇺🇸💙👊
From Georgia ❤ God bless you and thank you for your service 🙏
Thank you for your service, sir - and RIP
God bless this man. He’s of the time of selflessness and values and courage of which our youth seem to no nothing about. It saddens me to type this but it is just the way it is.
Godspeed to you sir. Thank you AVC for providing these amazing interviews of these amazing men.
I was amazed at how much detail he gave, including names of his comrades. I am thankful for his service and have full respect for his bravery. To the service men and women I am indebted. I have freedom because of you and I am grateful.
Tough as nails! Thank you sir!
Be tough or die,they probably thought they would be dead, but wasn't going to give up,no matter what.
Incredible memories.🇺🇸💪
I'm so glad you found this veteran 🥰 His memory is incredible!
True American Hero & Patriot!
Impeccable memory!
That hero is as hard as a bag of jawbreakers!
Thank you for our Freedom!
Mr Rice thank you for your service sir you are a remarkable human being and lived an amazing life. Thank you for sharing your story i enjoyed it very much!
Thank you very much to you,and your colleagues, for the sacrifices you all made on our behalf,and for the peace we take for granted today. GOD BLESS.
Thank you Sir
Unbelievable how this hero can recall all of these details! Wow! Much respect to you Sir Much respect!!
The details are incredible! I could listen to this guy all day. Greatest generation.
My family and most of my neighbors were all WW I and WW II veterans. Some of my dad’s best friends were veterans from WWII in both the European Theater and the Pacific Theater. The best people I’ve ever known. Absolute pillars of the community. All kinds of jobs and professions and they were hard working decent people who would be heartbroken to see what our country has become. I miss them.
After the third time I’d call time out. What a trooper.
"I weighed 286lbs...normal weight 137lbs. The rest was military bric-a-brac"
Holy f@&k.
Good story. Thanks to all our Veterans who served. Semper Fi.
This interview is absolutely amazing! What an incredible human being.
Greatest generation bar none 💯
The voice of a hero.
What an amazing account of the war. This man was sharp as a tack. I was spellbound listening. ❤
A true hero. Ty for your service sir
Thank you for your sacrifices, services, and Valor!
Quite a memory thanks for sharing
Awesome video!
What a sharp fella.
Amazing the clarity of his memory of place names and dates and names and such.
Great recount of d-day. Had me at the edge of my seat.
Much respect sir.
I vote this guy for president! Sharp as a tack. God bless our WWII Vets!
They broke the mold after this lot.....double tuff. What a lovely humble gentleman. If it wasn't for guys like him we would be speaking Japanese down here in New Zealand & working as slaves. No disrespect to anyone intended. Thanks for what you did,
Thank You for being a BAD ASS GET IT DONE AIRBORNE RANGER! You inspire me!
Isn’t it interesting the amount of exact detail this old man can recall. Most of us have short-term memory loss. Most of us do better with long-term but this guy received such thorough training that he still remembers it in his old age.
Wow. Amazing man
What a man!! A great, great member of the world, 's Greatest Generation...
I love these stories, I just pray we dont have more stories from our young men and ladies. Im a veteran and look at my kids and it makes me so sad to think of them going through what most veterans have to go through. Chokes me up, wars more than a story for some, its someone's last day on earth.
If you are ever in the south west UK it's well worth visiting the disused Smeatharpe Airfield where the 101st took off from. Very quiet place in the middle of nowhere. The little museum there is fascinating.
what a great honour to have this interview for future generations. Thank you for preserving these interviews. I live in Canada your neighbor to the north. We have just as many stories of our Canadian Vets. Lest we forget.
Much respect for him.
His ability to recall details about something that long ago at his age is amazing. Or it could be horrible also for him. Trauma sticks with you sadly.
Thank you
so nice they made him a cross such strong amazing men my grandfather never would talk about the war the things he saw,heard unimaginable
None of us would have any freedom except for these young men. Mere teenagers. Thank you sir. 🇺🇸 I’m afraid if this happened today, I would be speaking German.
The Captain John Millers (Saving Pvt. Ryan) are real. Tom Rice is a perfect example.
Please include his rank and Company, etc. in the Description. It sounds like he participated in everything depicted in Band of Brothers....!!!!
When you like up man in dictionary , this hero shows up. Thank you sir for my freedom
His mind is like a steel trap….amazing memory
I can't imagine the weight these men must have had to hump around with i am a ex assault engineer from the war on terror and I was part of the first units out to afghan taking control of ports and airfields and putting in security around the places we needed to hold for other units to come in but the weight we carried even back then in the early 2000s was crazy just a normal combat loadout weighed a ton the body armour and helmet alone was stupidly heavy body armour then was like wearing a blast door 😂 but anyway those ww2 vets were different animals respect to all who served thank you for your sacrifice 💙🏴💪🇺🇸👊
Getting shot twice in France is nothing compared to the harrowing experience of walking around for 80 years with his massive balls.
"How many are you?"
I said, "50,000. Because obviously she was a spy."
😂😂😂😂
To the American Veterans Center and families of surviving veterans 2024: Please consider if you have access to the Internet to play for them a neat radio station is LIVE 24:7. This radio station plays all the 1940s war music (big band, swing, love songs) and is interspersed with all the speeches made by the Allies and also some German propaganda broadcasts. Every once in a while, reporters in London shelters as the bombs are falling around them. Some recordings from the airfields. And some cozy bulletins telling the homefront how to grow their gardens for nutrition and vegetables for vitamin C. (I didn’t know this, but all the citrus was being sent to the front lines). An amazing radio station called The British Home Front Radio. Tunein has it as well as being on the Internet. I wish I had known this 20 years ago when so many of our veterans were still here with us.
Thanks to everyone that served in WW2 and everyone please remember the ones that didn’t make it back home!!
Certified Hood classic
Lost my father a couple years ago, he served on a carrier in the Pacific during WW2.
I'm sorry to hear that. My dad was a gunner on one of the ships that carried fuel for the carrier group in the Pacific. Because of that generation they gave us a lot of options that we're screwing up on today. Says my masculine side 🤫
Bless this Superhero.🦸♂🙏💖 Thank you for your service.
"Outside of that idk what happened to them" this man is a very reliable man
American badass.
It’s amazing how this legend is more cognitive and a better leader than the POTUS.
The Mohawks. No one could tell Jake McNasty what to do 😂
Thank you so much for your services and lovely dedications to Our Beautiful USA Dear American Sir.🤗🥰😍🙏❤❤❤❤❤🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍💙💙💙💙💙🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🙏✝️
F’ing Legends!
Those who went to fight the Third Reich and its allies were the most heroic and badly-bravest men of the “modern-industrial era”…and most deff some of the bravest ever to have walked this Earth.
Is there a place to find out more about a grandparent that served in world war II ?
Family, local VFW, local Veterans Services, County Clerk records office, library....errmmm....that's what I can think of off the top of my noggin.
This Man is so sharp, unlike Sleepy Joe!
Stud...we owe him...
It seems as if there would be far less than that…where did you get those numbers? Thats ALOT of old folks still alive
Unless this incident is a duplicate, my dad was there when the German soldier was finished off...
The title is slightly misleading WW2 troops never experienced 336 days in combat.
Statistically proven by research allied troops encountered an average of 10 days actual combat from D Day to VE day.
It's like the WW1 trench warfare myth that troops went to the trenches in 1914 and came out 1918.
There was 3 lines of trenches along with periods of R&R and apart from frontline conditions & shelling and the random attack & counter attack soldiers time spent in trenches were very monotonous.
If you look on TH-cam there's a very good video where a WW2 veteran meets & talks with an Afghanistan veteran and the old boy says to the young lad.."you've seen some stuff boy!".
❤
GOD BLESS☦️🙏
Which arm sergeant .... ?
Stud 💪
‘Murica🇺🇸
Annnnndddd this is why we have PJs today....
Happy to see this video, but 336 days in combat, wounded 4 times, and he gets less than 40 minutes to talk about it….