Print This Page

Sergeant Thomas John Abourezk

A black and white headshot photo of a young White man in uniform.
  • Unit: Marine Fighter Squadron 122
  • Date of Birth: April 29, 1921
  • Entered the Military: January 16, 1942
  • Date of Death: April 19, 2001
  • Hometown: Wood, South Dakota
  • Place of Death: Rapid City, South Dakota
  • Award(s): Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star, American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal
  • Cemetery: Section I, Grave 1027. Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, South Dakota
Contributed by Kierra Williams
Mentored by Mrs. Sue Larson
Rapid City Christian School, Rapid City, South Dakota
2025/2026

Early Life

Thomas John Abourezk was born on April 29, 1921, in Gregory, South Dakota. His parents, Charles and Ilayni Abourezk, grew up in a small farming village in Syria. Charles came to the United States in 1898 and settled in Wood, South Dakota. In 1907, he returned to Syria to marry Ilayni Mickel, and they started their family. In 1912, he returned to South Dakota, but his wife and two children, Helen and Charles, could not join him until 1919, when World War I ended. 

Thomas Abourezk and his two younger siblings, Virginia and James, were first-generation Americans. Abourezk spent his childhood playing hide-and-seek and sledding with other kids in the wintertime. His father owned a general store in Wood, and Thomas and his siblings often helped in the store. They even learned Lakota to communicate with the store’s Native American customers. 

Thomas attended school in Wood, played high school football, and was part of the first class to graduate from the new school, which opened in February 1939. After graduating, he attended South Dakota State College for one year, studying Pre-Engineering. He also worked in his family’s store as a sales clerk and a butcher. 

A snippet of the 1930 Census.
The 1930 Census shows the Abourezk family living in Wood, South Dakota. National Archives and Records Administration.
A black and white image of several young men playing football in a field.
Thomas Abourezk practicing with his high school football team, 1938. Courtesy of the Abourezk Family.
A black and white image of a grocery store with several customers and workers inside.
Thomas Abourezk grew up working with his family in their grocery store in Wood, South Dakota, c.1940. Courtesy of the Abourezk Family.

Homefront

Thomas Abourezk grew up in Wood, South Dakota. In an area of South Dakota where land was selling for as little as 25 cents per acre, Wood grew to have a bank, a high school, and a newspaper within 10 years of its organization. Started in 1912, the town was unincorporated until 1929, seventeen years after Thomas’s father, Charles Abourezk, made it his home. Charles, a Lebanese immigrant from Syria, was elected as the town’s first mayor in June 1929.

During World War II, South Dakota contributed to the war effort by producing food. An agricultural state, South Dakota sold almost 40 million pounds of pork, 5 million pounds of lard, and half a million pounds of dried eggs to support the war and humanitarian efforts, such as the Red Cross.

The state’s residents supported the war effort by buying war bonds and bringing in scrap metal. Children got involved, too, collecting milkweed pods for life preservers and growing Victory Gardens. Eager to do their part, South Dakota 4-H girls studied how to protect Victory Gardens from insect damage. 

Local newspapers published war propaganda and printed extra editions to send to soldiers, airmen, and Marines serving their country. The Mellette County News, one of the local papers in Abourezk’s home community, sent so many papers to the boys overseas that its publisher ran an ad requesting help with the addressing because the long military addresses didn’t fit its mailing machine.

Because so many farmers and their sons had enlisted in the military or left home to work in industrial plants, the farmers struggled to harvest their crops. However, after the war, South Dakota’s population did not shift significantly, suggesting that the state was not as dependent on war plants as some neighboring states.

A newspaper article titled, “Quick, The Spray Gun! Girl 4-H Members Study Gardens, Learn to Combat Destructive Insects.”
South Dakota 4-H clubs worked to keep victory gardens free from pest damage, February 24, 1943. Daily Plainsman.
A newspaper ad titled “Soldier of the Soil” features an image of a farmer behind the wheel of a tractor.
The newspapers in Mellette County printed war propaganda emphasizing the importance of their readers’ occupations to the war effort, 1944. Mellette County News.
A newspaper article titled, “Let’s Get in the Scrap.”
The Mellette County News reports on a scrap drive and is seeking volunteers to help address newspapers being sent to military personnel around the world, October 15, 1942.

Military Experience

Thomas Abourezk enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on January 16, 1942, within weeks of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He traveled from his home in Wood, South Dakota, to the closest Marine enlistment station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Abourezk completed his basic training with the Fourth Recruit Battalion at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. On March 1, 1942, Private Abourezk was assigned to the Aircraft Engineer Squadron 23, Air Base Group 2, a unit responsible for the maintenance and service of aircraft on the ground. Less than a week later, he was transferred to Marine Fighter Squadron 122 (VMF-122), under Marine Aircraft Group 12. His role within VMF-122 was part of the ground echelon responsible for maintaining, arming, fueling, and repairing aircraft. By May 1942, he was promoted to Private First Class. 

On October 15, 1942, Abourezk left the United States and spent the next ten months in the South Pacific. During this tour, Abourezk’s squadron operated out of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. In a letter to his sister dated March 3, 1943, he wrote, “I went swimming last night. Seems kind of funny swimming in March. The water is so clear you can see the bottom where it is 75 feet deep. We call these ponds, ‘lagoon.’ You know–a ‘sleepy lagoon.’” 

While in the South Pacific, Abourezk stayed with the Marine Fighter Squadron 122, but moved between Marine Aircraft Groups 11, 14, and 12. These Marine Fighter Squadrons were tasked with keeping the Wildcat and later Corsair aircraft flying under tropical conditions with limited supplies, frequent Japanese air raids on the airfield, and little respite. Abourezk continued to increase in rank while overseas, returning as a Technical Sergeant in June 1943. 

Abourezk was sent stateside in August 1943 and was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California, until July 1944, when he left the United States for the Western Pacific. During this time, the VMF-122 reorganized, added new personnel, and began training for its second deployment. On March 1, 1944, Abourezk was promoted again to master technical sergeant, the highest enlisted rank in aviation. He was only twenty-two years old.

Abourezk left for his second and final deployment on July 16, 1944. During this deployment, Abourezk was involved in the fighting on Peleliu. This battle’s objective was to gain airfields near the Philippines and Japan. By capturing the airfields, the Allied troops could stop the Japanese from refueling and supplying their troops and prevent them from attacking the American forces as they attempted to take the Philippines. Abourezk’s official military file contains a letter from the Commanding Officer thanking the Second Marine Aircraft Wing for their assistance in unloading stretchers and evacuating casualties from the front lines at Peleliu and Ngesebus. 
Abourezk returned to the United States aboard USS Pennsylvania on October 24, 1945, after the Japanese surrender. He was honorably discharged on November 6, 1945. For his service, he received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star, the American Campaign Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, and the World War II Victory Medal.

A black and white image of a young White man in uniform standing outside a house.
Private Thomas J. Abourezk outside his home in Wood, South Dakota, while on a two-week furlough, August 1942. Courtesy of the Abourezk Family.
A black and white photo of a military vehicle transporting vehicles on an airfield. In the background are several airplanes.
Thomas Abourezk spent over two years of his military service working on aviation crews across various islands throughout the Pacific, c.1943. Courtesy of the Abourezk Family.
A color photo of a bronze medal engraved with "Asiatic-Pacific Campaign."
For serving almost two years in the South Pacific and Western Pacific campaigns, Abourezk received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal with one star. Courtesy of the Abourezk Family.

Veteran Experience

Thomas Abourezk was discharged from active duty on November 6, 1945, at the Marine Corps Air Depot, Miramar, San Diego, California. He was flown to Seattle, Washington, and hitchhiked from there to his home in South Dakota. 

Reportedly, when he walked into the family home in Wood, his mother mistook him for his younger brother and called out, “Shut the door! You’re letting in all the cold air!”

“Momma! It’s me. I’m home from the war,” he replied.

Abourezk returned to the retail business that his parents had continued to operate through the war years. He and his brother, Charles “Chick”, began running the store in Mission, South Dakota, after purchasing it from their parents. They expanded the store, making it one of the most successful businesses in the area. Their clever signs on Highway 18 brought tourists to their business and entertained the local shoppers as well. 

In December 1946, Thomas married Twila Lou Fox, and they made their home in Mission, South Dakota. They raised four daughters in Mission: Bonnie, Colleen, Jill, and Susan. 

During the nearly 30 years they lived there, Thomas was active in the Mission Chamber of Commerce and was a member and president of the South Dakota Retailers Association. In 1962, Chick and Tom purchased Evans Plunge, a tourist attraction in Hot Springs, South Dakota. They completely renovated the structure built over the natural hot spring and continued to operate the warm-water spring until 1978.

In 1974, after selling the store in Mission, the Abourezk family moved to Rapid City, where Thomas remained active in mentoring young businessmen through the Service Corps of Retired Executives. He enjoyed attending reunions with men he’d served with in the Marine Corps. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church in Rapid City for twenty-two years. 

Thomas Abourezk was deeply patriotic. His daughters said he was proud of his country, his state, and “on down the line.” 

A black and white image of a young man and woman in an embrace on a bridge.
Thomas Abourezk with Twila Fox, whom he married in 1946. Courtesy of the Abourezk Family.
A color photo of a main street of stores with cars parked on the street.
Thomas and Chick began operating Abourezk’s Store in Mission, c.1955. Courtesy of the Abourezk Family.
A newspaper advertisement featuring free water.
Abourezks gained a reputation for their creative signs that invited customers to stop for water and shop at their store, May 11, 1966. Mitchell Republic.

Commemoration

Thomas John Abourezk died on April 19, 2001, in Rapid City, South Dakota. He is buried at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. Abourezk left his family with a charge to value each other. Before his death, he told his daughters, “Take care of your mother and sisters. That’s the way I was raised, and that’s the way you were raised.” Thomas John Abourezk’s life is a testament to his values.

A newspaper article titled, “Thomas Abourezk, 79, was self-taught WWII historian.”
Peter Harriman’s obituary of Abourezk draws attention to his accomplishments, April 22, 2001. Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
A color photo of an elderly White man sitting in a chair in between two young kids, a girl and a boy.
Thomas Abourezk and two of his grandchildren, Max and Hannah Callas. Max is wearing Abourezk’s Marine Corps jacket, 1998. Courtesy of the Abourezk Family.
A color photo of an arched white marble headstone engraved with “Thomas J Abourezk M SGT US Marine Corps World War II Apr 29 1921 Apr 19 2001 At peace with God.”
Thomas Abourezk’s grave at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, South Dakota, April 15, 2026. Courtesy of Carter Aldrich.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Abourezk, Jill. Personal interview with the author. January 21, 2026.

Abourezk, Jill. Telephone interview with the author. January 18, 2026.

Abourezk Family Records. 1930-2001. Courtesy of Liz Breed.

“AMA Buys Much Pork for Lend-Lease Here.” Argus Leader [Sioux Falls, SD], August 20, 1942. Newspapers.com (230813993).

Callas, Susan Abourezk. Personal interview with the author. January 21, 2026.

“Construction to Begin on New Evans Plunge.” Daily Republic [Mitchell, South Dakota], October 2, 1970. Newspapers.com (7898749).

“Evans Plunge Popular Spot at Hot Springs.” Daily Republic [Mitchell, South Dakota], August 5, 1971. Newspapers.com (8422267).

“Food Purchases In State Announced.” Rapid City Journal [Rapid City, South Dakota], April 3, 1944. Newspapers.com (350472339).

“Girls 4-H Members Study Gardens.” Daily Plainsman [Huron, South Dakota], February 24, 1943. Newspapers.com (19374155).

“Industry Jobs Show Decline.” Rapid City Journal [Rapid City, South Dakota], September 20, 1945. Newspapers.com (350470910).

“Let’s Get in the Scrap.” The Mellette County News [White River, South Dakota], October 15, 1943. 

“Marine Birthday.” Rapid City Journal [Rapid City, South Dakota], November 7, 1988. Newspapers.com (527787822).

“Mission C of C Elects Abourezk As New President.” Daily Republic [Mitchell, South Dakota], March 27, 1961. Newspapers.com (5595836).

“Mission Man Heads Retailers.” Argus Leader [Sioux Falls, South Dakota], June 12, 1961. Newspapers.com (238725517).

“More Boys to the Colors.” The Mellette County News [White River, South Dakota], October 15, 1942.

“Soldier of the Soil.” The Mellette County News [White River, South Dakota], October 5, 1944.

South Dakota. Mellette County. 1930 U.S. Census. Digital Images. http://ancestryclassroom.com

South Dakota. Mellette County. 1940 U.S. Census. Digital Images. http://ancestryclassroom.com.

“South Dakota Retailers Name Directors.” Argus Leader [Sioux Falls, South Dakota], May 27, 1957. Newspapers.com (238738856).

“Steal Thunder.” Daily Republic [Mitchell, South Dakota], May 11, 1966. Newspapers.com (5638852).

Thomas J. Abourezk, Official Military Personnel File, Department of the Navy. National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Thomas John Abourezk, Report of Separation, Department of the Navy, National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Thomas John Abourezk. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRL Death File. Digital Images. https://ancestryclassroom.com.

Thomas John Abourezk. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Digital Images. https://ancestryclassroom.com.

Secondary Sources

Harriman, Peter. “Thomas Abourezk, 79, was self-taught historian.” Argus Leader [Sioux Falls, South Dakota], April 22, 2001. Newspapers.com (243260959).

Karolevitz, Robert F. “Life on the Home Front: South Dakota in World War II.” South Dakota State Historical Society, 1990. https://www.sdhspress.com/journal/south-dakota-history-19-3/life-on-the-home-front-south-dakota-in-world-war-ii/vol-19-no-3-life-on-the-home-front.pdf. 

Mellette County, South Dakota: 1911-1961. Mellette County Centennial Committee, 1961. 

Owen, Peter F. “The Marine Corps Air War over the Pacific.” U.S. Naval Institute. Accessed January 18, 2026. https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2023/february/marine-corps-air-war-over-pacific.

“Thomas John Abourezk.” Find a Grave. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24505415/thomas-john-abourezk.

“Thomas John Abourezk.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, National Cemetery Administration. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/THOMASJOHNABOUREZK/78CBC3D.

“USMC Military Occupation Codes.” The Military Yearbook Project. Accessed January 18, 2026. https://militaryyearbookproject.org/references/military-occupation-codes/usmc.


This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.