Group to Private Benton E. Thomas, 13th Pennsylvania Infantry

Group to Private Benton E. Thomas, 13th Pennsylvania Infantry: Mexican Border Service Medal, crimp brooch, unnumbered, marked “Medallic Art Co, NY” on the edge; Pennsylvania Mexican Border Service Medal, numbered “11318″; World War I Victory Medal, no clasp; Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Mexican Border Service Medal, engraved “B.E. Thomas” on the top bar; Pennsylvania Second Class Marksman Badge, 1913. With a collar device of Company I, 13th Infantry; US discharge button; unofficial Mexican Border Service lapel pin.

Private Thomas was from Bloomsburg, a carpet weaver by trade. He enlisted in March 1915. Thomas is not on the roll for a federal Mexican Border Service Medal, but apparently acquired this one much later. The Pennsylvania Mexican Border Service Medal number is verified on the award card. Thomas died in 1968 and is buried in Lime Ridge, Pennsylvania. His grave marker indicates World War I service in the 12th Infantry, which did not leave the United States during World War I.