Thomas Abrams Varns was drafted following his graduation from Springfield High School, and attended Army basic training at Camp Barkley in Abilene, Texas. He was assigned to the 415th Medical Collection Company, which was attached to Patton's 3rd Army. Varns' unit accompanied 3rd Army as it moved through northern France and into Germany, providing medical assistance and support throughout its campaigns.
Photos
Caption
Military Portrait of Tom Varns in 1944Where:
UnknownWhen:
1944Ownership:
Public domain 
Caption
Back inscription reads “Paris, June 14, 1945. Arc De Triomphe, Paris, France sight seeing trip (for 50 francs). Got pictures at Tronchet Studio for 30 francs. Russel Borling, Don John Vick, myself second from left end in first row. Where:
Military group photo taken in Paris Directly in front of Unknown Soldiers graveWhen:
June 14, 1945Ownership:
Public domain 
Caption
Large military group photo of 415th Medical Collection Company taken at Camp Bowie, in Brownwood, Texas on September 11, 1944. (Tom Varns is in the fourth row/top row, eleventh from the left).Where:
Camp Bowie, in Brownwood, Texas When:
September 11, 1944Ownership:
Public domain 
Caption
Back image of 415th Medical Company photo, listing the names of everyone in the photo.Where:
UnknownWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
Public domain
Caption
The inscription on the back read “We came down this road to chow. We came over this hill from Englburg. This is Furstenstein where Oles stayed. You can not see the towers in this view. It was a nice walk.” Where:
Postcard of picturesque Furstenstein (Bayr. Wald) GermanyWhen:
UnknownOwnership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator![Postcard, SchloB Englburg, Erholungsheim (Bayr. Wald) The back inscription reads “This is the castle we stayed in and you can see the ‘town’ of Englburg, [in] ‘Bavaria’. This was on top of the world.”](http://www2.illinois.gov/alplm/library/collections/oralhistory/VeteransRemember/worldwarII/VarnsThomas/_t/Varns_Tho_06_jpg.jpg)
Caption
Postcard, SchloB Englburg, Erholungsheim (Bayr. Wald) The back inscription reads “This is the castle we stayed in and you can see the ‘town’ of Englburg, [in] ‘Bavaria’. This was on top of the world.”Where:
SchloB Englburg, Erholungsheim (Bayr. Wald)When:
UnknownOwnership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator