 Thrash earned the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit during the Korean War, and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct as senior United Nations officer in a Chinese Communist prisoner of war camp.William Gay Thrash was born in Tifton, Georgia, on September 17, 1916, to Jesse Thrash and Leila Gay.He graduated from Boys' High School in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1934.