Thomas A. Wornham

Thomas Andrews Wornham (December 12, 1903 – December 17, 1984) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. He is most noted for his service as commanding officer of the 27th Marine Regiment during the Battle of Iwo Jima or as commanding officer of the 1st Marine Regiment during the Korean War.

Early career

Thomas A. Wornham was born on December 12, 1903, in Rensselaer, New York. After the graduation from the high school, he attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and graduated with the rank of second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on June 3, 1926.

Wornham was subsequently transferred to the Marine barracks within Philadelphia Navy Yard and attended the Field Officer's Course at local Basic school.

He was ordered for his first expeditionary duty in April 1927, when he was assigned to the Marine Barracks Shanghai, China. After his return to the United States, Wornham was assigned to the Marine detachment within summer camp of President Calvin Coolidge in Criglersville, Virginia, in November 1929. After five months of service there, he was assigned to the 1st Brigade of Marines and sailed for Haiti in March 1930. While served there, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in March 1932.

Wornham returned to the United States in June 1933 and later attended Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon the graduation in June 1936, he was appointed instructor at Marine Corps School in Quantico, Virginia. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to the rank of captain in August 1936. Wornham served in this capacity until September 1939.

World War II

Captain Wornham was subsequently assigned to the Marine detachment aboard the light cruiser USS Helena and participated in the patrol voyage in the Caribbean. He was promoted to the rank of major in May 1941 and transferred to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., where he served in the Personnel Division under Brigadier General Littleton W. T. Waller Jr. command. During his time at Headquarters Marine Corps, Wornham was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in August 1942 and later decorated with the Navy Commendation Medal for his distinguished service there.

On 19 February 1945, Colonel Wornham landed with the first waves of his regiment on Iwo Jima. He personally participated in the reconnaissance of the terrain under heavy mortar and small-arms fire and when one of his battalion was halted by enemy's fire, Wornham rallied his men to renew the attack and inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese. For his gallantry in action, he was decorated with the Navy Cross.

His final assignment came in October 1959, when he was appointed commanding general of the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, the largest maritime landing force in the world. Wornham was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general the next month.

For his distinguished service in this capacity, he was decorated with the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Wornham was relieved by Lieutenant General Alan Shapley on March 31, 1961, and subsequently retired from the Marine Corps the following day.

Life in retirement

Wornham retired with his wife to San Diego and was appointed to the San Diego Harbor Commission in early 1962. His task was to control and disposition of 1,800 acres of tidelands. He was appointed general manager of the Tri-Hospital Building Fund, the multimillion-dollar drive to provide funds for the expansion of Mercy, Sharp and Scripps hospitals.

Wornham died on December 17, 1984, and his ashes were scattered at sea on his own request.

Navy Cross citation Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Colonel Thomas Andrews Wornham (MCSN: 0-4079), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of the Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, from 19 February to 27 March 1945. Landing with the assault waves on extremely difficult fire-swept beaches, Colonel Wornham led his combat team through heavy hostile fire to establish the initial beachhead in his sector. Serving gallantly throughout this entire operation, he made continuous reconnaissance of the terrain in his zone of action and exposed himself to heavy fire in front-line positions to encourage his men. Passing through an area infested with snipers on 12 March, he went to one of his battalions held up by strong enemy resistance and, despite intense mortar and small-arms fire, rallied his men to renew the attack and advance the front lines while inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese. His indomitable fighting spirit, aggressive leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.