by Quanda Vines

Osborne Berry Thomas was born June 5th, 1892 in Norfolk, Virginia to Laura Chessman and John B. Thomas. Osborne was a Baptist and was not a registered voter or married. The highest level of education he completed was public school.

Before the war, he worked for the City Water Department in Norfolk. He enlisted into the regular Army October 8th, 1914. He was sent to Ft. Slocum, NY. There, he was a private and a cook. He was originally signed to troop A-10th US Calvary regiment. While at Ft. Slocum he received his training. Thomas was discharged from the military March 8th, 1920 as the same rank he enlisted in, a private. After the war he was employed at an Army Base. Later on, he was registered for the US National Homes for disabled Veterans.

His disability was Pulmonary hypertension artery. This meant that he had high blood pressure in the arteries that go from your heart to your lungs. This is different from having regular high blood pressure. With PAH, the tiny arteries in your lungs become narrow or blocked. Osborne Berry Thomas passed away on July 1, 1935 in Elizabeth City, VA. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery his hometown Norfolk, VA. His tombstone is so worn out that the words are not legible anymore.