Thomas Sands

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameThomas Jahn•Sands
Used nameThomas•Sands
Born2 August 1907 in Dayton, Ohio (USA)
Died5 November 1984 in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York (USA)
AffiliationsFencers Club, New York (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

Thomas Sands was US Champion in épée in 1935 and 1937 and competed in that weapon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He represented the Fencers Club of New York, and attended the US Military Academy, class of 1929, where he won the 1927 Intercollegiate Fencing Association (IFA) title in 1927. He became a career military officer, eventually reaching the rank of Major General in 1952. Sands began fencing in 1926 at West Point where he was taught fencing by John Dimond.

Sands was a member of the War Department General Staff during World War II. From 1952 until 1955, he was assistant chief of staff of the Allied Land Forces in Central Europe assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He was chief of staff of the Eighth Army, commanding general of the Seventh Infantry Division and deputy commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College. He was an assistant chief of staff at Supreme Headquarter Allied Powers (Europe) in the early 1960s. Sands retired in 1966 as chief of the Army Audit Agency. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with Bronze Star and Cluster. He also received honors from the British, French, Belgian and South Korean governments. Sands was elected to the US Fencing Hall of Fame in 1978.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Summer Olympics Fencing USA Thomas Sands
Épée, Team, Men (Olympic) United States =5