The 2011 Spirit of America Barrett C. Shelton Freedom award will be presented to
Colonel Terry A. Thomas
U.S. Army, Signal Corps (Retired)
COL Terry Thomas entered the military in 1976, serving on Active Duty with the U.S. Air Force. He changed services in 1978 and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army Signal Corps in 1980. He was a graduate of the Army National Guard’s Alabama Military Academy (OCS), Class 24. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College. COL Thomas has a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Western Illinois University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Touro University.
COL Thomas served at numerous locations around the world to include Korea, Kuwait, Iraq, and several posts in the United States. He served several years as an Active Duty member of the Alabama Army National Guard, stationed primarily in Decatur with the 142d Signal Brigade. His final duty assignment was with the 335th Theater Signal Command and Multi-National Forces–Iraq at deployed locations in Kuwait and Iraq.
As full time Administrative Officer with the Alabama National Guard’s 142d Signal Brigade from 2000 to 2005, COL Thomas was responsible for coordinating the deployment of three Alabama National Guard battalions of 2,000 Soldiers, with units in 18 cities across Alabama, to active duty supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. Accomplishing this task involved ensuring all units were fully staffed, medically fit, trained, and fully equipped to Army standards. These soldiers deployed with every authorized personal item such as uniforms and theater specific equipment. The units also deployed with all of their mission essential equipment. COL Thomas followed these Alabama soldiers to Iraq when he deployed to the same location in 2005 through 2006.
Upon retirement from the Army in 2006 after 29 years service, COL Thomas became the JROTC Senior Army Instructor at Albertville High School. COL Thomas and his wife Jackie live in Decatur, Alabama. They have two grown children who also live in Decatur – Tim, who is the manager of Huntsville Flight Center and Amanda Vandiver who is married. They have 2
grand-daughters – Matelyn, 10 and Rose, 2.
COL Thomas has been presented several awards during his 29 years of service. These include: The Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star, multiple awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal. Other awards include: The Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaign Medal, The Operation Enduring Freedom Campaign Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Medal, The Korean Defense Service Medal, 2 awards of the National Defense Service Medal, The Alabama Commendation Medal, and The Alabama Special Service Medal. COL Thomas was also awarded the Silver Order of Mercury – the highest service medal of the Signal Corps Regimental Association.
