Jason Thomas

Jason Thomas (born July 4, 1974) is a United States Marine who located and rescued people in the aftermath of collapse of the World Trade Center in New York City after the September 11 attacks in 2001. With fellow U.S. Marine David Karnes, he helped find a pair of Port Authority Police officers buried in the rubble of the World Trade Center.

Career 2001: September 11 attacks On September 11, 2001, Thomas was dropping his daughter off at the home of his mother on Long Island when she told him planes had struck the towers. The 27-year-old Thomas, having left active duty in August 2001, quickly put on his Marine uniform (camouflage utilities), sped to Manhattan, and had just parked his car when the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.

Thomas told the Associated Press:

"Someone needed help. It didn't matter who," he said. "I didn't even have a plan. But I have all this training as a Marine, and all I could think was, 'My city is in need.'"

Thomas was portrayed in Oliver Stone's feature film World Trade Center by William Mapother. This portrayal by a white actor generated controversy, and the producers stated that they were unaware that the real Thomas was black until they had already started filming.

On February 11, 2007, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition aired a special two-hour episode about Thomas and his family. Following the attacks, Thomas and his wife moved their four children from New York to Whitehall, Ohio. The house they bought began deteriorating, and the show intervened to help them.

On September 2, 2013, Channel 4 detailed Thomas' involvement in the rescue operation following the collapse of the towers in the UK broadcast The Lost Hero of 9/11.

After 9/11 As of 2018, Thomas lives in Whitehall, Ohio, with his wife Kirsti and their children. He works as an officer for the Ohio Supreme Court and a Technical Sergeant in the United States Air Force.