Thomas C. Bethel was drafted into the U.S. Army on November 3, 1944 at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was shipped to Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania for basic training. On August 25, 1945 he departed for the Pacific Theater. He landed at Okinawa on September 27, 1945.

Thomas’s awards and decorations include: the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal, Japan.

He was acting first sergeant of the 3096th Quartermaster Company when discharged from Fort Sheridan, Illinois on December 15, 1946.