WWII Airborne Legend: 336 Days in Combat and Wounded 4 Times | 101st Airborne | Tom Rice

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Thomas M. Rice was born in a small wooden shack in Coronado, California in 1921. A graduate of Coronado High School in 1940, Tom joined the U.S. Army at Fort Rosecrans near San Diego. In 1943, he attended Camp Toccoa, Georgia before being sent to the Air Force Troop School at Fort Benning.
After 18 months of training, he joined the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) of the legendary 101st Airborne Division and was shipped overseas to participate in the D-Day invasion. Normandy would offer Rice his first taste of combat, but it certainly wouldn't be his last.
Tom Rice would spend a total of 336 days in combat participating in Operation Overlord, Operation Market Garden, The Battle of the Bulge, and helping to capture Hitler's Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden. During this time Rice would be wounded on four separate occasions.
Thomas M. Rice passed away on November 17, 2022.
Interview recorded on November 6, 2021
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[@americanveteranscenter]

HISTORY LOVERS - before you comment, be sure to subscribe to this KZbin channel and ring the notification bell so you never miss a future upload!

[@emr52071]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5Stda2dmJ2Smassi=E6SfJ8YEEhRMgSFR

[@nicholaswimborne]

Your videos are excellent. But I really think you should reconsider the introduction with George W. Bush speaking in the background. The war in Iraq has been proven to be based on the lie that Iraq had WMDs and Bush and Cheney deceived the world. Eisenhower has said many poignant and stirring phrases. Surely he or at least some other president would be better.

[@user-mv2oo9iw6u]

*We still drink the Bouillon brewery's Bastogne Airborne Bruin-Brown! Thank you Vince!*

[@JohnPaulJones47]

There's only 120,000 WW2 veterans still alive as of 2024. Cherish all of these priceless moments and stories.

[@SigmaNuHE481]

Shocked there's that many

[@danam0228]

​@@SigmaNuHE481me too

[@judd0112]

Thankfully some organizations are getting their stories before they are lost forever. Too bad there isn’t more of the WW1 & civil war soldiers stories

[@CALLAHAN19]

Damn 120k?? I didn't think we had that many left.. But within the next 5 yrs that number will probably drop bigtime

[@creaturesofqueens]

Everyone of them should be interviewed!

[@zackadamec9332]

Gets shot in the leg, pulls the round out and sticks it in his pocket. These men were a different breed.

[@bridykes9986]

Yep strong as hell!!!

[@BillMcGirr]

Balls of steel.💪👍🥃

[@catboxcleaner3532]

18:27 Tough as nails!

[@Igor-my6ml]

No they were a man, we today are different breed.

[@BillMcGirr]

@@Igor-my6ml Who’s we?

[@rcook2338]

This man's memory and the amount of detail given is impressive.

[@jimshoe402]

I do know my name at 67.😁😁😁😁😁

[@North_Dumpling]

Veteran's accounts should be taken with a grain of salt. Vietnam vets tell a lot of made up bs themselves and they are younger than WW2 vets.

[@pickititllneverheal9016]

​@@jimshoe402Unlike our fearless leader. 😂😂😂

[@calicojakk9974]

Just couldn't resist bringing our sh*tty politics into this could you? ​@@pickititllneverheal9016

[@Karhald]

He probably relives it every day.

[@joshuawatkins4487]

God bless him. He told me his last wish was to live until he was 100 years old and make his last jump at 100. On his 100th birthday, he did just that, with the support of many local Coronadans and vets of the 101st.

[@johnpope574]

Amazing 👏

[@proudinfidelpaintball]

❤

[@gsmith207]

incredible

[@zxy78267]

Oh, is this him? How cool!

[@petercermak4095]

This hero had 6 inches of arm bone wrecked, and he still insisted on going back to fight in just a couple of weeks. Now that's Tough! Thank you for your service!

[@ModestestRUST]

30 year old with a full hip replacement… I’d have to agree:::

[@rickskellig4652]

The fight in so many WWII soldiers was unbelievable, they fought relentlessly like demons every step of the way. We often think of how hard the fight was from the Allied perspective but it must have been horrifying for the Axis powers. No matter what they threw at the Allies, they kept on coming like unstoppable Terminators. Hopefully they were shitting themselves in terror as the walls closed in, for inflicting WWII upon the world

[@richardthorne7775]

What a MAN. He remembers names, dates, places from 80 years ago and I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast! Men like Mr. Rice were the true heroes of our nation. He and others like him, won the peace that we enjoyed for so long. God bless you sir and thank you for your story, from an 83 year old USAF retired MSGT.

[@shannonobrien9922]

Nobody actively trying to KILL you while you're eating breakfast!!!!!! When you're in a adrenaline situation it imprints memory

[@brianjschumer]

Right, he even remembered the two guys names who jumped into France right after he jumped, weight, dates, landing zone..knew the gal was a spy, said 50k Americans up the road..unreal brave and memory

[@shawnwhite08sw]

Back then the foods didn’t mess with our brains either like out store food does so the issues weren’t as common mentally

[@shannonobrien9922]

@@shawnwhite08sw you think that's what it is???? MY hubs and I are talking recently about WTF is WRONG w ppl anymore??? Idk how we got "here" but I want to go BACK to when people had sense and the world wasn't off his kilter

[@Heavyisthecrown]

@@shannonobrien9922and we have lost morals and God. Everyone’s an selfish , anti god moron now.

[@davidbailey6350]

All I can say is that having an individual like this, I war hero, is a reason why we have freedom today, although some of that freedom is being diminished as we speak

[@keithstubbs4473]

Now kids are fighting for whatever narrative they're told is the correct one. I wish young people would open their eye's.

[@grayharker6271]

There are thousands of US Army Airborne troops around the world that could face the same situation anytime!

[@evanderson92]

I'm always blown away by these veteran accounts. If still alive, these men are at least 98 years old. Mr. Rice survived nearly a year of combat but was also able to live a long, hopefully peaceful and prosperous life -- all the while being blessed with a fantastic memory. Whether a blessing or luck, to live for so long -- and through so much-- is RARE. Thank you, AVC, for recording these memories for future generations.

[@jimshoe402]

I TINK only one unit did the Mohawk all Nuts F the Army they said..🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@ericcriteser4001]

You could in fact be 97 if your parents signed off at age 17 like my dad. You could in fact be a very old 96 as of June 2026 and still have seen WW2 service. But yes, good for their longevity.

[@markadams2907]

One of the features of war is the trauma it leaves on its participants...you always hear them say that they wake up screaming. Or they'll hear a sound or smell something and it takes them back 'there'. They will never forget.

[@sorinsrn5442]

Goddam, after so so many years this guy didnt forget nothing, his memory is better then mine at 35 years old. What a great generation of heroes.

[@bobclark6597]

I was fortunate to meet Tom Rice on many occasions in San Diego at various fundraising events and celebrations here in the San Diego area.His memories on D-Day and other battles he was in were like it happened yesterday. It was great to see him and hear his voice again he is sorely missed. We should never forget what the greatest generation did for our freedom and always cherish their memories

[@davehiggins5903]

Amen

[@1blueeye]

This man was clearly promoted to leadership positions quickly. Hearing him describe what it takes to be a good leader, the first 3 words he says... "Diligence, awareness, compassion." What a leader he must've been, and clearly still is. The way he threw out the word "salubrious" so casually to describe the climate in southern California was remarkable. We are so fortunate in the USA to have men such as this - and to think our society was once capable of producing men like this by the 1000s - times have certainly changed! Thank you sir and God Bless.

[@darrengilbert7438]

They truly were the greatest generation.

[@phillipzx3754]

"They paid us extra for jumping..." This got a chuckle from me. In 1971, we were paid an extra 55 bucks a month jump pay.

[@samiam619]

And I bet you blew it on fast women and booze! 👍😎 (as you should).

[@ethanmoon505]

Thank you for your service! My grandfather flew hueys 69-73!

[@chrismoore7287]

It's wild how he is not telling a story here, he is reliving a past that never left him. Incredible man indeed.

[@mirzamay]

Yes, and he's still proud of those 1 armed push ups, and the boiling mad staff Sargent lol.

[@Stevesautopartsify]

This man's recollection is as if he was being debriefed hours after these events he experienced almost 80 years ago!! Just amazing!

[@gregs6403]

"I weighed 286lbs...normal weight 137lbs. The rest was military bric-a-brac" Holy f@&k.

[@skeeterbodeen8326]

What a National Treasure... You can see in his eyes, and face how hard his Fathers Death still hits him. These interviews are excellent, no annoying background music, or constant interruptions from the proctor. SUBSCRIBED !

[@williambehan1982]

True American Hero & Patriot! Impeccable memory! That hero is as hard as a bag of jawbreakers! Thank you for our Freedom!

[@darrengilbert7438]

Really interesting account. It's great to hear a veteran tell such a detailed account. He does have an amazing memory. What a hero he is.

[@judd0112]

I’m sure having such a traumatic experience at such a young age would be imbedded into your memory for the rest of your life. If you survived. I’ve heard other WW2 veterans say. After getting through D-Day that the rest of his life was easy street. Never worried about anything or cared about repercussions. Think of what you were doing at 19,20,21 and I couldn’t imagine playing life or death war with real bullets and soldiers trying to kill you. I was worried if I had enough gas to get to the beach.

[@andyandy4306]

Great guy…reminds me of my Dad. 529th Engineering and Light Pontoon Company of 3rd Army (General George Patton Commander). He was 22 years old.

[@PaddyThePaddy]

I loved Tom Rice! I was lucky enough to travel back to Europe with him twice!

[@Heavyisthecrown]

Omg that’s so cool! I can’t imagine being around such an incredible man! Must have been awesome!

[@chriskay3058]

Wow. His recollection is amazing. Names, places, rivers.... I don't even remember what I had for breakfast this morning. What an amazing man with amazing memories.

[@HRM.H]

Thank you AVC and the veterans. ❤

[@AmeriFanPicker]

Amazing the clarity of his memory of place names and dates and names and such.

[@alburyeel4993]

WOW what a man. The 101st were tough. I looked Tom up, he past in 2022, aged 101, somehow that seems appropriate! Thanks for your service Tom Rice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RossNaylor-uq4jp]

You just can't help loving the old ww2 vets they talk about the war like it was any other day complete understated heroics humble to the core and just great men thank you all for giving us a future we might not have had 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💪🇺🇸💙👊

[@vonb2792]

I Found it more with the Europe WW2 Vet.. the ones Who talk About the pacific théâter tends to be alot moré émotional. Différent théâter of the war Only respect

[@BobBob-yd8xf]

This guys mind is still sharp as a razor blade!

[@lgninjalo]

Getting shot twice in France is nothing compared to the harrowing experience of walking around for 80 years with his massive balls.

[@Heavyisthecrown]

😂

[@eyoung74]

Unbelievable how this hero can recall all of these details! Wow! Much respect to you Sir Much respect!!

[@warnerww83]

I always wonder about how they were able to recall all this detail. Then it hits me that they carried the burden of remembering all this carnage and trauma for the remainder of their days, that these memories probably tormented their dreams every night. They damned themselves for the peace of others and that degree of sacrifice is hard to quantify.

[@amber40494]

Well said. My dad was on a bomber in ww2. He never talked about. He was mean, tough and very distant from his kids. I saw him do some very cruel things to the animals on his ranch--mainly cruel neglect. If I had known what he went through in the war I would have forgiven him for everything.

[@vonb2792]

Its the Adrénaline and trauma.. it never leaves you. Its like your mind is stuck on thèse Days every single Day.. you basically never left a never ending nightmare. The worst is when you Côme back home.. everything feels blend and you cant distract yourself to the stimulus Heights of "back There/than" and Everyone act like you are the same person before going but you aint. Some deals with it better than others... Community/family(kids) responsabilities helps but like post above..the stain remains, Duty allows you to Over come

[@smckay6438]

Just a simple old man that went beast mode for a couple years 😊

[@user-dh6bj2me5p]

Blessed with a keen survival instinct and well trained.

[@danrace62]

What an amazing memory in detail this man had with dates time roads cities etc! God bless him!

[@francispitts9440]

My family and most of my neighbors were all WW I and WW II veterans. Some of my dad’s best friends were veterans from WWII in both the European Theater and the Pacific Theater. The best people I’ve ever known. Absolute pillars of the community. All kinds of jobs and professions and they were hard working decent people who would be heartbroken to see what our country has become. I miss them.

[@Old_B52H_Gunner]

Lost my father a couple years ago, he served on a carrier in the Pacific during WW2.

[@ronaldclifton8710]

I'm sorry to hear that. My dad was a gunner on one of the ships that carried fuel for the carrier group in the Pacific. Because of that generation they gave us a lot of options that we're screwing up on today. Says my masculine side 🤫

[@bradr2142]

What a great guy. I worked union construction with alot of these dudes. Lunch time was story time.

[@KolyaNickD]

If you are ever in the south west UK it's well worth visiting the disused Smeatharpe Airfield where the 101st took off from. Very quiet place in the middle of nowhere. The little museum there is fascinating.

[@jessicablank6470]

I'm so glad you found this veteran 🥰 His memory is incredible!

[@JohnnyJMurphy]

Im a Canadian from a small province in Canada called Newfounfland, Newfounfland is North Americas most eastern point. There were American bases here at that time and plenty of things left from here to go to Europe in WW2. I was born in 89 and graduated in 07, in about 05 a survivor from the concentration camps cam to our school. Ill never forget seeing his number tattoo and the things he said. The people from Newfounland where sent to slaughter in WW1 and plenty fought in WW2 aswell. Those men Canadian, American and Newfounflanders (technically british at that time) are the most amazing men maybe of all time.

[@GroovesAndLands]

Thank you for your service, sir - and RIP

[@jebbroham1776]

"The sound of a dying man will stop all conversation". That's pretty much the best description of how brutal it must have been that I've ever heard.

[@hiheeledsneakers]

From Georgia ❤ God bless you and thank you for your service 🙏

[@williamtarpley4025]

Worked in a construction company in Houston in the early 70s there were 3 navy vets ww2 from working there learned a lot listening to there stories

[@markeich1]

Godspeed to you sir. Thank you AVC for providing these amazing interviews of these amazing men.

[@georgecoull1883]

Mr Rice thank you for your service sir you are a remarkable human being and lived an amazing life. Thank you for sharing your story i enjoyed it very much!

[@petertilsley3015]

They broke the mold after this lot.....double tuff. What a lovely humble gentleman. If it wasn't for guys like him we would be speaking Japanese down here in New Zealand & working as slaves. No disrespect to anyone intended. Thanks for what you did,

[@ED-ti5tc]

Tough as nails! Thank you sir!

[@richochett404]

Be tough or die,they probably thought they would be dead, but wasn't going to give up,no matter what.

[@stevesherwood5060]

I was amazed at how much detail he gave, including names of his comrades. I am thankful for his service and have full respect for his bravery. To the service men and women I am indebted. I have freedom because of you and I am grateful.

[@felipegrille8082]

It's a honor just watching this.. he's so sharp, and badass as they come even at his age . So much respect.. thank you sir for your time for this interview for the world to see. This is history at it's best.

[@whiteknob7944]

After the third time I’d call time out. What a trooper.

[@user-ch4ok3ei6w]

Thank you very much to you,and your colleagues, for the sacrifices you all made on our behalf,and for the peace we take for granted today. GOD BLESS.

[@randyrobertson4686]

God bless this man. He’s of the time of selflessness and values and courage of which our youth seem to no nothing about. It saddens me to type this but it is just the way it is.

[@Noobstu]

So did you go volunteer for service?

[@bridykes9986]

This generation man 😢 so much respect 🙏 🫡 👏 🙌 💪

[@rogerthat4545]

Right? this generation knew which bathroom to use. The one for white people

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

Incredible memories.🇺🇸💪

[@smgri]

His mind is like a steel trap….amazing memory

[@mpojr]

Thank you Tom Rice for your service,with men like you America will overcome and endure

[@Heavyisthecrown]

Absolutely ❤ America is strong. Times are tough and complicated. But we will prevail ❤

[@fido4450]

What an amazing account of the war. This man was sharp as a tack. I was spellbound listening. ❤

[@ricksmith6298]

Much respect sir.

[@ScottTice1971]

This interview is absolutely amazing! What an incredible human being.

[@rogerbeavers2149]

The details are incredible! I could listen to this guy all day. Greatest generation.

[@garylastname8596]

Thank You for being a BAD ASS GET IT DONE AIRBORNE RANGER! You inspire me!

[@richardthornhill4630]

Good story. Thanks to all our Veterans who served. Semper Fi.

[@bradmoberly6164]

A true hero. Ty for your service sir

[@davidwestfall4336]

The voice of a hero.

[@cody33rd3rd7]

Greatest generation bar none 💯

[@kevinkenney5228]

Isn’t it interesting the amount of exact detail this old man can recall. Most of us have short-term memory loss. Most of us do better with long-term but this guy received such thorough training that he still remembers it in his old age.

[@johngrogan7585]

Thank you Sir

[@aboynamedthump]

Thank you for your sacrifices, services, and Valor!

[@larrydee8859]

Absolutely Incredible Memory! Thank You Sir, for your service.

[@laurakenney100]

What a fantastic man. Every detail etched in his amazing memory.

[@sookie4195]

None of us would have any freedom except for these young men. Mere teenagers. Thank you sir. 🇺🇸 I’m afraid if this happened today, I would be speaking German.

[@rayl3329]

I can't even remember the phases of basic training in 1987... how does this man have such detail.. Thank you sir!

[@alistairquinn1173]

"How many are you?" I said, "50,000. Because obviously she was a spy." 😂😂😂😂

[@constitutionalUSA]

Wonderful man. Would love to hear ALL he had to tell. I can tell he's told this many times. God bless them all. Two sons in the service. God bless America

[@wastelander89]

Its amazing that we still have ww2 veterans. Im so grateful that we get to listen to the experiences of ww2 veterans. Its incredible. Thank you for your service. Im so impressed on how articulate he still is. His memory is good on so many details. Thr amount of details is so impressive. I couldn't tell a story with that many details if i tried. So impressive the amount of small things he remembers.

[@rickrick5041]

I listened to the whole thing at once spellbound. I don’t have words to say except to thank him

[@PAS_2020]

To the American Veterans Center and families of surviving veterans 2024: Please consider if you have access to the Internet to play for them a neat radio station is LIVE 24:7. This radio station plays all the 1940s war music (big band, swing, love songs) and is interspersed with all the speeches made by the Allies and also some German propaganda broadcasts. Every once in a while, reporters in London shelters as the bombs are falling around them. Some recordings from the airfields. And some cozy bulletins telling the homefront how to grow their gardens for nutrition and vegetables for vitamin C. (I didn’t know this, but all the citrus was being sent to the front lines). An amazing radio station called The British Home Front Radio. Tunein has it as well as being on the Internet. I wish I had known this 20 years ago when so many of our veterans were still here with us.

[@bayoumanbryan]

Thank you for your service sir. i wish i could sit down with you and listen to your stories. i appreciate you. you are the reason that we Americans are not speaking German or Japanese today.

[@don1985don]

What an amazing man and hero. I wish I would have had the honor of meeting him. God Bless him 🙏

[@TheHog131]

I have sat in on a lot of After Action Reports and have never heard such precise detail. This is a brilliant man with an extremely high level of situational awareness. A natural leader.

[@K-lINE-76]

Administration has destroyed everything these men have died and faught for,,,

[@charlesbraun8867]

These guys , just know words to describe them . Thank them all . Thank you to all veterans .

[@DianaRamirez-bp5fl]

Thank you for your service and God bless you.

[@georgebell7103]

Very articulate guy, with a great memory. Well spoken

[@11474403a]

The took off at 1:31PM 17th of September, its incredible the man remembers such a detail but given the events its no wonder Thank you for allowwng all of us to live free your duty is appreciiated,

[@theodorrichey]

Such a hero. I’m Dutch and want to thank the American army for what you did in world war 2.

[@michaelwhite6112]

Thank you

[@Docleegb]

This guys clarity of memories awesome. I feel like it could be a training exercise just listening.

[@stephenfreid6200]

God Bless You Soldier, Job Well Done....God Bless All The Boys Who Fought Back The Fires Of Hell And Snuffed It Out....Great Respect To Our Father's, Grandfather's, And Great Grandfather's Who Snuffed Out That Fire....God Bless Them All

[@pvtmadmike]

what a great honour to have this interview for future generations. Thank you for preserving these interviews. I live in Canada your neighbor to the north. We have just as many stories of our Canadian Vets. Lest we forget.

[@beccagee5905]

Put them on youtube.

[@__-bc4bs]

Wow! He still got so much energy and clear in the head. Golden. 😎🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@soundslikesight7876]

What a genius brilliant brave man. Thanks for the story sir!

[@user-kk8vc9ck3t]

Judging from everything I've ever heard about it, combat is totally terrifying. But more is expected of Airborne Soldiers. That 336 days in combat represents levels of exhaustion, levels of fear, closeness to death unimaginable.

[@douglasschafer6372]

Quite a memory thanks for sharing

[@BackwardsMarathonPSU]

For those interested - I was a bit confused when he mentioned the "18 inch" shells that he said the USS Quincy fired on the D-Day Germans they blockaded...since the largest guns the USA ever fielded were the 16 inch guns of the Iowa-class battleships. The Quincy was a cruiser, and had EIGHT INCH guns. An easy mistake for him to make/say. The only 18 in. guns ever fielded were on the Japanese battleship Yamato. The US did develop 18'' guns, but never deployed them. I'm sure the 8'' was impressive, but rest assured if somehow an 18'' shell had landed anywhere within 1/4 mile of him, he likely wouldn't be around to be telling the story lol.

[@ericmayberryakers5108]

GOD BLESS YOU MY BROTHER FROM ANOTHER GRANNY.....FOR PUTTING YOU'RE OWN LIFE FOR A BIG NOBODY LIKE ME....

[@skeeterbodeen8326]

Please include his rank and Company, etc. in the Description. It sounds like he participated in everything depicted in Band of Brothers....!!!!

[@elihusmails7401]

I had to look up “salubrious”. Dude is sharp!

[@annegreenwood3624]

so nice they made him a cross such strong amazing men my grandfather never would talk about the war the things he saw,heard unimaginable

[@zxy78267]

It is absolutely amazing to me that these men met the moment; they joined and fought to end the terrible rule of Hitler. They are our heroes. They created a bond with our brothers and sisters across the sea. We must treasure them while they are still here.

[@JohnsSoutheastMissouri]

I love these stories, I just pray we dont have more stories from our young men and ladies. Im a veteran and look at my kids and it makes me so sad to think of them going through what most veterans have to go through. Chokes me up, wars more than a story for some, its someone's last day on earth.