Susan Bastion Thisler Collection

Collection

Identifier: MS 006

Staff Only

The collection contains biographies of Susan and John Thisler, military records of Susan, and materials regarding the Korean War.

Dates

1943-1953

Creator

Thisler, Susan Bastion (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

Extent

.67 Linear Feet (1 oversized box)

Expand All

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

Susan joined the Army in 1943 and had basic training at Fort DesMoines, Iowa. She was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in 1943 and her assignments then included tours at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; O'Reilly General Hospital in Springfield, Missouri; the Hospital Center at Camp Carson, Colorado; Headquarters Eighth U.S. Army, Yokohama, Japan; Camp Kilmer, New Jersey; New York Military District; U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York; Far East Command, Tokyo, Japan.

She completed the Cooks and Bakers Course at Fort Riley, Kansas and a WAC Officer Course at Purdue University. She commanded WAC troops at West Point, Yokohama, Tokyo, Camp Carson and O'Reilly General Hospital. She was personnel officer when not commanding. She attended Port Arthur College in Port Arthur, Texas prior to her joining the Army. She also attended North Texas Agriculture College, Arlington, Texas.

She was appointed Captain in the Regular Army in 1948 and was a Major when she was discharged in 1953 to have her son John O. Thisler, Jr. Her regular Army serial number was L151, which was supposed to be the same as General Douglas McArthur, except his did not have a "L" attached.

Biographical / Historical Thisler, John O. was born June 2, 1918 to Mr. and Mrs. O.L. Thisler Jr. in Kansas City, Mo. He attended high school in Chapman, Ks. Before attending Kansas State University from 1937- 1941, he was city editor of the Abilene, Kansas Daily Reflector until he was drafted in to the Army in 1942. After completing basic training at Camp Roberts, Ca., he applied for Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. Infantry Dec. 2 1942. He was assigned to Post Headquarters at Fort Campbell, Ky. for his first tour of duty. He was then transferred to Camp Wheeler Macon, Ga. His next assignment was to the 166th Infantry Regiment of the Ohio National Guard. The unit patrolled the shore of the Gulf of Mexico near Lake Ponchatrain. The unit was moved to Camp Shelby, Ms and then to Fort Sill, Ok. He was graduated from the Infantry Officer Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Ga., in 1944 while stationed at Fort Sill.

While stationed at Fort Sill, he was ordered to Camp Roberts, for refresher training prior to going to Japan to join the Army Occupation Forces there where he was then assigned to Hq. Eighth U.S. Army public information office. He was chief of the news section and later executive officer of the Eighth U. S. Army information section (1945- 1948). While serving in Japan he met his future wife, Capt. Susan E. Bastion of Port Arthur, Tx. He returned to the U.S. in October 1948 and was stationed at the First U.S. Army on Governor ' s Island, N.Y. He married Capt. Bastion August 26, 1950 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. During his tour with the First Army he attended and was graduated from the Armed forces Information School at Fort Slocum N.Y. in 1951.

He was ordered to Korea in 1951 where he was public information officer of the X Corps. In 1952 he was transferred to Japan where he was chief of the Far East Command, United Nations Command news branch. During his tour there he was sent back to Korea where he was the Public Information Officer for Little Switch, the exchange of sick and wounded prisoners-of-war in Korea. His son, John, was born Dec. 13, 1953 at the Tokyo Army Hospital. He returned to the U.S. in 1954 and was stationed at the Washington Military District in Seattle, Wa., as public information officer. He was commanding officer of the U.S. Army Exhibit Unit at Cameron Station, Alexandria, Va., (1955-1959). During this tour he completed work for his journalism degree with courses at the University of Maryland offered in the Pentagon. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in technical journalism from Kansas State University in 1957. His next and last assignment was chief of the public information division of the Fourth U.S. Army information section. He retired May 31, 1962 at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio Tx.