Warrant Officer 1 Shawn David Thomas was born on May 25, 1981, and grew up in Woodward, Oklahoma. Those who knew him say that under the big beard, the tattoos and the giant muscles was a small-town Oklahoma boy grounded by his faith, his strong values and his family.
Shawn enlisted in the Army in July 2000 as a network switching systems operator-maintainer. His early training included the Basic Leader Course and Airborne School, and he soon set his sights on Special Forces. After completing Special Forces Assessment and Selection, he joined the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg in 2008 and served as a Special Forces communications sergeant, an “Echo” in the language of the Regiment. His training included the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller training, French language training, SERE High Risk training, the Senior Leader Course and the Jumpmaster Course.
Over the years he deployed seven times to Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2016 he chose to continue serving his teammates as a warrant officer and graduated from the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course in December 2016. He then deployed with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) to Niger, his eighth deployment, where Special Forces teams were advising the Nigerien Armed Forces in their fight against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin region.
On February 2, 2017, Shawn was killed in a vehicle accident during a routine movement between partner-force outposts. Another Green Beret was injured. Enemy forces were not involved. He was 35 and was due home later that month. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and an Army Commendation Medal for his work in Niger. His other decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for Valor, six Army Achievement Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Master Parachutist Badge.
Shawn made his home in North Carolina with his wife, Tara, and their four children, Cheyenne, Taylor, Gavin and Natylyn. He is also survived by his parents, David and Dusty Thomas of Woodward, his brother Michael and his half-sister Kristy. Friends, family and teammates gathered for a celebration of his life, and he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. His brother said simply, “He was just such a great person.” His hometown remembers him as a hero who left too soon while doing a job he loved.
A true quiet professional who personified courage, brotherhood and selfless service through seven combat tours.
3rd Special Forces Group Leadership
Sources
- Army Times: Green Beret dies in non-combat accident in Niger (Feb. 9, 2017)
- Woodward News: Shawn David Thomas obituary
- News 9 (Oklahoma City): Late Oklahoma Green Beret arrives stateside for interment at Arlington
- We Are The Mighty: Green Beret dies in accident during anti-Boko Haram mission
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Shawn Thomas Bio.docx
