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Schlesinger, Thomas O. (32997730): Difference between revisions

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|birth_place=Berlin, Germany
|birth_place=Berlin, Germany
|teams=MII 459-G
|teams=MII 459-G
|death_place=Lebanon, New Hampshire
|rank_final=Major
}}
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<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Schlesinger, Thomas O. (32997730)|Thomas O. Schlesinger]]''' (11 June 1925 – 12 February 2012) was a Ritchie Boy (from Germany; Jewish) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 14.
'''Thomas O. Schlesinger''' (11 June 1925 &ndash; 12 February 2012) was a German-born United States Army intelligence soldier who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]], Maryland, in [[Class 14]] and later taught international relations at Plymouth State University.
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== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Thomas was born 11 June 1925 in Berlin.
Thomas O. Schlesinger was born on 11 June 1925 in Berlin, Germany. His Jewish family fled Nazi persecution via Italy and Switzerland, reaching the United States in 1940. Enlisting in 1943 at eighteen, he trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 14) and served with team MII 459-G. Family accounts place him in operations around the Battle of the Bulge and Remagen Bridge and later in interrogations of Nazi officials and camp guards preparing for the Nuremberg trials.


He was fluent in four languages, struggled nights and worked overtime to earn a high school diploma, then a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland (1958), then a master’s (1966) and doctorate (1967) from American University in Washington. He led Plymouth State University's Sidore lectures for several years from their inception, and he enthusiastically worked with the Model United Nations program.
Schlesinger remained in the Army for a long career that included Korean War service, interpreting work on the Austrian State Treaty period, and instruction as a Green Beret–era officer at Fort Bragg, rising to major. He earned degrees from the University of Maryland (1958) and American University (M.A. 1966, Ph.D. 1967), taught at SUNY Fredonia, and then taught international relations at Plymouth State University, leading Sidore lectures and Model United Nations work. He died on 12 February 2012 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.


In 1943, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the US Army and was sent to the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, and became one the “Ritchie Boys”—an elite unit of young, mostly Jewish immigrants from Germany and Austria who were trained in counterintelligence, interrogation, and psychological warfare.
== Research notes ==
 
* Postwar career details retained from prior curated bio; WWII combat specifics follow daughter/Union Leader account.
Schlesinger escaped Hitler’s persecution in Berlin and fled to Italy and then Switzerland before arriving in the United States in 1940. He fought throughout the Korean War; participated in the Operation UPSHOT-KNOTHOLE atomic test in Nevada in 1953; served as interpreter (in German) for Lt. General William Arnold in creating Austria’s peace treaty in 1955 and then as interpreter (in Italian) for Brig.
 
He helped break German resistance at the Battle of the Bulge and at Remagen Bridge. He interrogated Nazi officials and camp guards in preparation for the Nuremberg Trials. General John “Iron Mike” Michaelis with the Southern European Task Force in northern Italy, helping establish the US Army’s first overseas missile command.
 
He rose to the rank of major and became a Green Beret instructor at the JFK Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg. And he was devoted to learning. He began work on his PhD even before finishing his 21-year-active-duty military career.
 
He served on the boards of the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union.




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== Timeline ==
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<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 11 June 1925 — Born in Berlin, Germany.
* 1940 — Arrived in the United States after fleeing via Italy and Switzerland.
* 1943 — Enlisted; trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 14); team MII 459-G.
* 1944–1945 — European intelligence service (Bulge / Remagen accounts; Nuremberg-prep interrogations).
* 1958 — B.A., University of Maryland.
* 1966–1967 — M.A. and Ph.D., American University.
* 1970s– — Taught at Plymouth State University.
* 12 February 2012 — Died in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* RB Archive ProQuest clip, Paula Tracy, “PSU community to pay homage to professor’s life,” ''Union Leader'', 20 April 2012
* [https://www.laconiadailysun.com/community/obituaries/thomas-o-schlesinger-86/article_eeeaa5e2-6063-5ff9-8c56-d4b5d32e9a25.html Laconia Daily Sun obituary, Thomas O. Schlesinger]
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
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* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-12-08 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-12-08 (1 post)
* Facebook-linked source: [https://www.plymouth.edu/magazine/uncategorized/thomas-schlesinger-education-of-a-teacher/ plymouth.edu]
* [https://www.plymouth.edu/magazine/uncategorized/thomas-schlesinger-education-of-a-teacher/ Plymouth State magazine profile of Thomas Schlesinger]

Revision as of 01:24, 17 September 2026

Thomas O. Schlesinger
Thomas O. Schlesinger
Personal details
Born11 June 1925
Berlin, Germany
Died12 February 2012
Lebanon, New Hampshire
NativityGermany
ReligionJewish
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
ASN32997730
RankMajor
Rank at RitchiePrivate
Camp RitchieClass 14 (2 December 1943 – 31 January 1944)
Section7B
EnlistedNew York City, New York
TeamMII 459-G
Teammates
Team — MII 459-G
These are other soldiers listed on the same team roster. People moved between teams; overlapping service dates are not always documented.
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Thomas O. Schlesinger (11 June 1925 – 12 February 2012) was a German-born United States Army intelligence soldier who trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, in Class 14 and later taught international relations at Plymouth State University.

Biography

Thomas O. Schlesinger was born on 11 June 1925 in Berlin, Germany. His Jewish family fled Nazi persecution via Italy and Switzerland, reaching the United States in 1940. Enlisting in 1943 at eighteen, he trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 14) and served with team MII 459-G. Family accounts place him in operations around the Battle of the Bulge and Remagen Bridge and later in interrogations of Nazi officials and camp guards preparing for the Nuremberg trials.

Schlesinger remained in the Army for a long career that included Korean War service, interpreting work on the Austrian State Treaty period, and instruction as a Green Beret–era officer at Fort Bragg, rising to major. He earned degrees from the University of Maryland (1958) and American University (M.A. 1966, Ph.D. 1967), taught at SUNY Fredonia, and then taught international relations at Plymouth State University, leading Sidore lectures and Model United Nations work. He died on 12 February 2012 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Research notes

  • Postwar career details retained from prior curated bio; WWII combat specifics follow daughter/Union Leader account.


Technical record

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 87
Nara ASN 32997730
Nara Name SCHLESINGER THOMAS O
Nara State 23
Nara County 61
Nara POE 2364
Nara DOE 120843
Nara Grade Alpha PVT
Nara Grade Code 8
Nara Branch Alpha NO
Nara Branch Code 2
Branch No branch assignment
Nara Term or Enlistment 5
Term of enlistment Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Defer. Date 0
Nara Source 0
Nara Nativity N1
Nara Year of Birth 25
Nara Race J
Nara Race Description White not yet a citizen
Nara Education 4
Nara Civilian Occupation 138
Nara Marital Status 6
Nara Height (inches) 0
Nara Weight (lbs) 0
Class_ASN 32997730
Class_Name SCHLESNGER, Thomas O.
match_method asn_exact_name_compatible
row_source both

Timeline

  • 11 June 1925 — Born in Berlin, Germany.
  • 1940 — Arrived in the United States after fleeing via Italy and Switzerland.
  • 1943 — Enlisted; trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 14); team MII 459-G.
  • 1944–1945 — European intelligence service (Bulge / Remagen accounts; Nuremberg-prep interrogations).
  • 1958 — B.A., University of Maryland.
  • 1966–1967 — M.A. and Ph.D., American University.
  • 1970s– — Taught at Plymouth State University.
  • 12 February 2012 — Died in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Sources

  • RB Archive ProQuest clip, Paula Tracy, “PSU community to pay homage to professor’s life,” Union Leader, 20 April 2012
  • Laconia Daily Sun obituary, Thomas O. Schlesinger
  • Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
  • Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
  • NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
  • 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2022-12-08 (1 post)
  • Plymouth State magazine profile of Thomas Schlesinger
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