John W. Thomason Jr

About the Author

John W. Thomason Jr. (1893–1944) was an American author, lawyer, and Marine Corps officer whose life bridged the worlds of literature and military service. Born in Hunt County, Texas, he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Texas Law School before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War I, where he served with distinction in France, earning the Navy Cross for valor. After the war, Thomason practiced law in Houston while pursuing his passion for writing, blending his firsthand experiences with vivid storytelling. His works often celebrated the heroism and camaraderie of soldiers, drawing from his own adventures. Notable for his illustrations as well as his prose, Thomason's legacy endures through his evocative portrayals of American valor, particularly in Fix Bayonets!: First-Hand Accounts of Heroism in WWI, a compelling collection of wartime narratives that capture the raw intensity of battle.