MSG David Thuma was born on 23 April in Troy, Ohio. MSG Thuma entered active duty 30 May 1980 after graduation from Tecumseh High School. Following completion of basic infantry training and airborne school he was assigned to Company A, 2^nd Battalion, 325^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82^nd Airborne Division (October 1980 - October 1984), as a 4.2" mortar gunner and squad leader. While assigned to the 82^nd, his actions during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada earned him the Bronze Star Medal.

MSG Thuma attended the Special Forces Qualifications Course in 1984 and completed training as a Special Forces Heavy Weapons Sergeant. From the "Q" course he was assigned to the 5^th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His various positions included Heavy Weapons Sergeant for ODA 563 and Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant for ODA 565. During his tour with the 5^th SFG(A), he participated in Operation Safe Passage in Pakistan, where he met his wife Josee; as well as Operations Desert Shield/Storm. He then went on to serve with distinction at the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (Airborne), Non-Commissioned Officer Academy as an ANCOC Instructor.

After his tour with the Special Warfare Center, he was assigned to the 3^rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). MSG Thuma served on ODA 335, 1^st Battalion, 3^rd SFG(A) as the Operations Sergeant and participated with distinction in Operations Restore Democracy/Uphold Democracy in Haiti. While in Haiti he was selected to brief the President on operations during the President's visit to the island. MSG Thuma then went on to serve as the 1^st Sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3^rd SFG(A). Following his duties as 1^st Sergeant he took over at Operations Sergeant for ODA 385, Company B, 3^rd Battalion, 3^rd SFG(A).

MSG Thuma's military education included the Airborne School, RECONDO School, Jungle Operations School, PNCOC, BNCOC (11C), Special Forces Qualification Course, Jumpmaster School, Anti-Terrorism Instructor Course, Combat Dive Course, Special Forces Operations & Intelligence Course, Military Freefall Parachutist Course, Dragon Gunners Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, Combat Dive Supervisors Course, Waterborne Infiltration Course, ANCOC, International Terrorist Awareness Course, and the 1^st Sergeant Course. At the time of his death, MSG Thuma had nearly completed an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences from Campbell University.

His many awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4^th Award), Army Commendation Medal (8^th Award), Army Achievement Medal (8^th Award), Good Conduct Medal (6^th Award), National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2^nd Award), Southwest Asia Service Medal (2 bronze service stars), Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (2^nd Award), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, United Nations medal (Haiti), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Diver's Badge, Driver's Badge, SF Tab, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Valorous and Army Superior Unit Award's, and the Canadian, Sudanese, Peruvian, German, and Kenyan Parachutist Badges. He was awarded the Veterans of OSS Award of Excellence at the 1995 Outstanding member of Special Operations Forces.

MSG Thuma is survived by his wife, Josee Bourget-Thuma and son Bradley Q. Thuma of Fayetteville; his mother, Mrs. Eileen A. Thuma, of New Carlisle, Ohio; his brother Wayne Thuma of New Carlisle, Ohio, and his sisters Becky Thuma-Mason of Tarpon Springs and Sonnie Fissel of Springfield, Ohio.