Thomas Carlton, right, greets Theodore Jones, left, as his children Bill Carlton, second from left, and Jean Rothfolk look on at Carlton’s Lakesite home Tuesday morning. Jones handled an ADT alarm call and called the fire department when Carlton had an oven fire recently.World War II veteran Thomas Carlton celebrated the country’s birthday Wednesday, but pardon him if he did a little personal celebrating, too.
Thanks to his security system and the Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department, the 89-year-old Bronze Star recipient spent the day comfortably in his Soddy-Daisy home, which was only minimally damaged by a fire in his kitchen two weeks ago.
“If it hadn’t been for the … alarm,” Carlton said, “I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
On Tuesday, the retired construction worker and onetime German prisoner of war got a chance to thank ADT dispatcher Theodore “T.J.” Jones — who flew in from Jacksonville, Fla. — and several members of the fire department.
“I say they’re the best in the world,” Carlton said. “They were all on the ball.”