Local veteran surprised by party for milestone birthday
By Toni Miles
Robert Thomas, Jr.
He served his country well in the Korean War, trained by the U.S. Army as a Tracking Radar Operator on the M51 Skysweeper, an anti-aircraft, combined gun, radar and fire director, fitted with a radar system computer on a single mount, defending American troops from enemy aircraft and attack, defecting enemy aircraft more than twenty-three miles away – an important role and not a job for the weak of heart.
Robert Thomas, Jr. was fit for the fight, despite the toxic gunshot fumes, violent recoil and the concussion wave of the operator’s entire body, held in place by just an ordinary lap belt.
“My job was to detect enemy forces with speed and accuracy, using the T-38 radar system (1954-1956 technology) for targeting information,” Thomas said.
“Once the position was determined, the gun was aligned and fired with a 75-millimeter shell, producing residue of gun fumes.”
Fast forward seventy-plus years later, stateside at St. Stephen’s Cultural Center in Pass Christian, where, on December 20, 2025, Robert Thomas, Jr. would find himself flanked by family, friends and leaders of local veterans organizations, quite the surprise for the Army veteran – a ninetieth birthday celebration, the result of meticulous planning, a covert mission unveiled after Thomas’ family and friends joined forces with leaders of local veterans organizations to surprise and honor him on his milestone birthday.
To put it in perspective, Thomas served at a time when less than half of American households had TVs, and those that did were all black-and-white, a decade before John F. Kennedy would be elected President of the United States, when credit cards did not exist nor satellites for communication, GPS or the Internet.
Thomas lived to see it all, returning home to the U.S. after serving his country overseas during the Korean War in the fifties, having honorably served in the U.S. Army, active duty, from November 31, 1954, to October 3, 1956.
On December 20, it was Thomas who would be honored, surprised by dozens of people celebrating his life, achievements and making him “king” for a day, complete with a crown, celebratory banner, accolades and certificates of honor and appreciation from the American Legion and VFW.
Rick Dew, Commander of the Ssgt. Donnie Leo Levens American Legion Post 1995, presents Robert Thomas, Jr. with a Certificate of Honor from the American Legion.
Rick Dew, Commander of the SSgt. Donnie Leo Levens American Legion Post 1995 in Long Beach, presented the Korean war veteran with a Certificate of Honor, in recognition of Thomas’ service in the U.S. military, along with a challenge coin.
Commander Ernie Carpenter presents a Certificate of Appreciation, on behalf of the Cecil R. Ruddock Memorial VFW Post 5931 in Pass Christian.
Ernie Carpenter, Commander of the Cecil R. Ruddock Memorial VFW Post 5931 in Pass Christian, presented Thomas with a Certificate of Appreciation thanking him for his service and commitment to the United States.
Pictured is a U.S. Army M51 Skysweeper on display with bogies attached. Local U.S. Army veteran Robert Thomas, Jr. operated this anti-aircraft equipment, protecting and defending American troops during the Korean War.
