James Thomas “Tommy” Mainhart

May 06, 2017 Last Updated: May 06, 2017 01:00 PM Death Notice

James Thomas “Tommy” Mainhart, 19, of Butler passed away Nov. 30, 1950, at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, during the Korean War.

He was born Sept. 22, 1931, in Cabot, to the late James Dewey Mainhart and the late Lydia Ellen Craig Mainhart.

Tom attended West Winfield and Butler area schools. He worked at Home Town Baking and Murphy's in Butler. He united with the First United Methodist Church of Butler on March 5, 1945.

Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army on Oct. 19, 1948, at the age of 17. He was stationed at Fort Knox, Ky. Tom went to Camp Crawford in Hokkaido, Japan, in April of 1949. He was part of the Inchon Landing in North Korea on Sept. 15, 1950. They then went to Pusan and Wonsan, and after three months, they arrived at the Chosin Reservoir on Nov. 27, 1950.

Tom was killed in action Nov. 30, 1950. The 31st Regimental Combat Team of 2,500 U.S. troops and 700 South Korean troops R.K.O. suffered almost 80 percent casualties during a five-day period.

His remains were considered unobtainable at that time. In 2004, Tom's remains were obtained by the U.S. Army and sent to Hawaii. In December 2016, they were positively identified, and his family was contacted.

He is survived by one brother, Craig Mainhart of East Butler; four nieces, Sandy Graff and her husband, Fred, of Butler, Barbra Leister and her husband, Stewart, of Sellersville, Sherry Bartman and her husband, Aaron, of Auburn, Ga., and Lydia Carroll of Florida; six nephews, David Mainhart and his wife, Karen, of Audubon, Pa., Howard Langston Jr. and his wife, Beth, of Turtle Creek, Pa., Robert Mainhart and his wife, Mary, of Butler, Larry Mainhart and his wife, Pat, of Butler, Thomas Mainhart and his wife, Rose, of Butler and Mark Mainhart; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and several great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by three brothers, William Mainhart, Clyde Mainhart and Darrell Mainhart; and two sisters, Jane (Howard Sr.) Langston and Helen (Carl “Tom”) Schultz.

MAINHART — Funeral services with full military honors for James Thomas “Tommy” Mainhart, who died Thursday, Nov. 30, 1950, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler, with the Rev. Dr. Tom Jones of the Summit Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will take place at the Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery.Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.