Thomas D Chism was born 24 May 1924 in Shelby County, Tennessee

Limited information is available in regards to Thomas D Chism’s family possibly due to multiple spellings for Chism aka Chisholm. He enlisted 16th August 1941 in Jackson, Mississippi. Enlistment documents reflect a grammar school education and occupation as a semi skilled mechanic.

Private Thomas D Chism, serial number 14054514, served with the 1st Infantry Division, 16th Infantry Regiment, Company A.

In November of 1942, they entered their first combat as part of Operation Torch in Algeria and Morocco. By June of 1943 his company moved on to fight in Italy. In May of 1944, the 16th Infantry Regiment were in training for Operation Overlord. In the early morning hours of 6 June 1944 the 1st Infantry was ready for D-Day.

About 300 yards off the beach, the landing craft came under withering artillery and mortar fire. The companies were not landed in an organized manner but were landed to the left of their assigned sectors in a disorganized condition. This was due mainly to the loss of key officers and enlisted personnel from enemy fire while trying to reach the beach. The assault companies were pinned down on the beach. Private Thomas D Chism was killed in action at Omaha Beach on the 6th of June 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in connection with combat operations against the enemy.

He is memorialized with his unit at Normandy American Cemetery in France.

On the 26th of April 1948, Private Thomas D Chism was buried in Arlington Cemetery Section 12 Site 5456.

Sources include findagrave.com and 16thinfassn.org.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.