David K. Thuma Biography
Dave Thuma was born April 23, 1962, in Troy, Ohio. He
graduated from Tecumsek High School and began his career in the United States
Army on May 30, 1980. Following completion of Basic Infantry Training and
Airborne School he was assigned to the Company A, 2nd Battalion, 325th Parachute
Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division from October 1980 through October
1984. He served as a 4.2” mortar gunner and infantry squad leader and earned the
Bronze Star Medal for his actions during Operation Urgent Fury in Granada.
In 1984, Master Sergeant Thuma graduated from the Special Forces Qualification
Course as a Heavy Weapons Sergeant and was assigned to the 5th Special Forces
Group (Airborne) with further assignment to Special Forces Operational
Detachment A 563. He also served as the Weapons Sergeant and Assistant
Operations Sergeant with ODA 565 and participated in Operation Safe Passage in
Pakistan (where he met his wife Josee). Operation Safe Passage provided valuable
assistance to the Afghan populace by teaching them how to recognize and remove
the 15 million landmines left behind by the Soviet Union during the war. Led by
US Army Special Forces, an international group of volunteers taught the
fundamentals of de-mining operations to soldiers and at the same time
instructing civilians how to recognize and react to minefields and record and
report the mines to the authorities. In addition to the training given by the
Special Forces, Master Sergeant Thuma and his teammates, also gave a pint of
blood each month to the International Red Cross war-wounded hospital. Master
Sergeant also participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, his second
combat tour. After returning from Desert Storm, Master Sergeant Thuma was
assigned as the NCO In Charge of the new 5th SFG(A) SCUBA locker facility.
Operating on a very limited budget and without an officer, Master Sergeant Thuma
personally sought additional resources from other units on post and organized
the entire facility by consolidating the Group’s multi-million dollar amphibious
inventory after the wartime deployment. His standard operating procedures
established the facility as the model for all Special Forces units. Upon
completion of his tour of duty in the 5th SFG(A), he volunteered and was
assigned to the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center’s Noncommissioned
Officer Academy which was recently dedicated the Master Sergeant David K. Thuma
Noncommissioned Officer Academy.
Before he could complete his tour of duty at the NCO Academy, Master Sergeant
Thuma was hand-picked for assignment as the Operations Sergeant of a Special
Forces SCUBA Detachment (ODA 335), in the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
and was an instrumental part in the successful restoration of a democratic
government in Haiti during Operation Restore Democracy and the follow-on
Operation Uphold Democracy. In January 1995, his detachment was given the
mission of providing security of the southern Haitian city of Camp Perrin. Under
Master Sergeant Thuma’s leadership the detachment conducted numerous projects in
the city, including establishment of a Community Surveillance Program based on
the America’s Community Watch Program. It allowed the citizens of Camp Perrin to
patrol their neighborhoods, reducing crime and building much needed pride in
their communities after years of abuse and neglect. Master Sergeant Thuma also
established a weekly radio broadcast where he spoke with the city’s Mayor and
community leaders about problems facing the city, solutions for these problems,
and the accomplishments from the past week made through the joint efforts of the
detachment and the Camp Perrin citizens.
Because of the outstanding performance of his detachment and the success of the
operations in Camp Perrin, the city was selected as the model city to present to
Richard A. Clark, Special Assistant to the President, who was sent to assess the
situation in Haiti by the President. After returning to the United States,
Master Sergeant Thuma served as the acting Detachment Commander for six months
and the detachment was redeployed to Haiti to provide security for the Joint
Special Operations Task Force Headquarters. Master Sergeant Thuma was chosen to
brief the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and the
Secretary of the Army, and was praised by the President for his detailed
explanation of the role of Special Forces in Haiti.
The detachment returned to the United States for training in preparation of a
Joint Combined Training Exercise in Benin, Africa. The detachment supervised and
provided instructor training in light infantry skills and waterborne
infiltration techniques for the Benin Army and Navy.
After this successful mission, the detachment returned home and began training
for a Rapid Support Unit rotation with Joint Task Force Six, where they provided
border surveillance for the U.S. Border Patrol in the southwest border region of
the United States. They were responsible for alerting the Border Patrol of
illegal drug smuggling, which resulted in a 100-pound seizure by Border Patrol
agents.
After returning to Fort Bragg, Master Sergeant Thuma was selected over 90 other
Master Sergeants in the 3rd SFG(A) by the Group Command Sergeant Major to become
the Headquarters Company First Sergeant. During his tenure as the First
Sergeant, David Thuma set a standard of excellence with his dynamic leadership,
physical fitness program, and his innovative methods of solving problems. His
team building exercises contributed greatly to the staff’s overall performance
and included an annual “Mud Run” which required the entire staff to complete a
four-mile run/crawl through every mud hole along the trail. This single event,
established his reputation for “training hard, to be hard” and accomplished more
to develop a cohesive and efficient team than any other exercise conducted by
the staff. His outstanding performance led to an additional one-year extension
of his tour as First Sergeant.
After a highly successful tour as the First Sergeant, Master Sergeant Thuma was
again selected to lead a Special Forces SCUBA Detachment (ODA 385), and during
another training mission, this time attached to the 5th Special Forces Group in
Kenya, Africa. The 5th SFG(A) Commander and the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya
credited him for establishing the working relationship required to make the
mission a success. On June 18, 1998, Master Sergeant Thuma, whose physical
prowess was legendary, died unexpectedly from a massive heart attack during the
detachments morning physical fitness training.
Master Sergeant Thuma’s awards and decorations clearly demonstrate his unlived
potential. They are the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service
Medal (4th Award), Army Commendation Medal (8th Award), Army Achievement Medal
(6th Award), Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), National Defense Medal, Armed
Forces Expeditionary Medal (2nd Award), Southwest Asia Service Medal (2 bronze
service stars), Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (2nd
Award), Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (numeral 4),
Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, United Nations Medal (Haiti),
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Combat
Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Bade, Combat
Diver Badge, Driver Badge, Special Forces Tab, Military Freefall Parachutist
Badge, Valorous and Army Superior Unit Awards, and the Canadian, Sudanese,
Peruvian, German, and Kenyan Parachutist Badges.
In 1995, Master Sergeant Thuma was selected as the Outstanding Member of the
United States Special Operations Command, which oversees all Special Operations
Forces for the United States Army (Special Forces, Rangers, Aviation), United
States Air Force Special Operations Wing, and the United States Navy SEALS. His
selection earned him the coveted Veterans of the Office of Strategic Services
Award for Excellence. At the time of his death, Master Sergeant Thuma was
working on his Bachelor’s Degree. He is survived by his wife, Josee, and son,
Bradley, now a soldier who has served as an infantryman with tours in Iraq.
David K. Thuma was an extraordinary man, among extraordinary men.
Excelsior College's Scholarship Page (Scroll to Thuma Scholarship)
Past Winners of the MSG David K. Thuma Memorial Scholarship
Contributors to the MSG David K. Thuma Memorial Scholarship