lest we forget

TOM, GEORGE WILLIAM

Rank / Branch:

SPECIALIST 5TH CLASS

Date Of Birth:

1947-01-02

Country Of Loss:

SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

HOSTILE, CRASH HELICOPTER

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:

HELICOPTER UH-1H

Other:

NOT MARRIED

Unit:

FIRST AVIATION BRIGADE

Date Of Loss:

1970-04-27

Loss Coordinates:

PLEIKU

Catagory:

BODY RETURNED

Awards & Decorations:

SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

TOM, GEORGE WILLIAM, SPECIALIST 5TH CLASS, U.S. ARMY, STANTON, MARTIN COUNTY, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

ARMY CREW MAN AVIATION BADGE, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, BRONZE STAR WITH V DEVICE, PURPLE HEART, ARMY COMMENDATIONS MEDAL, AIR MEDAL WITH 13 CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM MILITARY MERIT MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY WITH PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL efense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal

BIOGRAPHY

George Tom was born in Stanton, Texas to his parents, Lora Bell Crew and Leo Glen Tom. He attended elementary school in Stanton, then attended Greenwood High School in Midland County and was a 1965 graduate of Midland High School. After high school, he attended Price College in Amarillo and DeVry Technical Institute.
He joined the Army in Midland with a home of record of Stanton. He completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, crew chief training at Fort Rucker, Alabama and rotary mechanic training at Fort Eustis, Virginia. He was on flight status. He started his tour in Vietnam on July 5, 1968, and was assigned to the 281st Aviation Assault Helicopter Company, 10th Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, First Aviation Brigade. He was well liked by his fellow soldiers. He had completed a twelve-month tour and took 2 six-month extensions in Vietnam to qualify for a six month drop from the Army. He spent his leaves at home in Stanton before returning to Vietnam.
On April 27,1970, Sp5 Tom was a crew chief on a UH-1H helicopter, tail number 66-00870. This aircraft was engaged in a combat aviation mission performing aerial reconnaissance looking for an Anti-Aircraft gun site near Tuy Hoa. The aircraft was shot down by enemy ground fire. The door gunner was able to jump from the aircraft before it crashed and although he was seriously injured, he survived. The other three, the aircraft commander, the co-pilot and Sp5 Tom perished in the crash.
Specialist Tom was buried with full military honors in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Stanton, Texas. He was survived by his parents of Stanton and brother, Bobby Glen Tom and grandmother, Mrs. C. E. Crow of McCamey. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor while engaged in aerial flight.
Daughter-Laura Burks lives in Washington State with husband David and three kids, Alec, Ryan and Lauren.