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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Tom got his thoughts of flying while living on or near Air force bases as his father was in the Air force for 22years. Tom began flying in the Civil Air Patrol in 1966. He joined the Army in 1969 and attended Army Helicopter Flight Schools in Mineral Wells, Texas & Fort Rucker, Alabama receiving his Military wings in January 1970.

Tom served one year in Vietnam from March 1970 till March 1971 flying 1,098 combat hours as recorded by the Army operations clerk of the 174th Assault Helicopter Company in I Corps in the Republic of South Vietnam. Tom received numerous Military awards including the Bronze Star Medal, & Air Medal. Tom also received the Flying Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star presented to him by ARVN General Loi ordered by then President Thieu of the Republic of South Vietnam. Ex President Thieu past away last year.

After 2 years & two months & ten days in the Army and his return to the U.S. Tom left to attend civilian aviation school at Sierra Academy of Aeronautics completing the Commercial Course. Tom served with numerous small airlines including Nevada Airlines, Air Nevada, Omni Airlines most of whom went out of business. He also served a short stint with Continental Airlines about the time they went into bankruptcy court. Tom later flew a King Air for a farmer for 13 years. The job other than the Army he says he liked the most.

As of this writing Tom is still flying for a family owned private corporation, flying U.S, Canada, and Mexico. He has logged over 20,000 hours total time, approximately 4,000 helicopter- 900 glider & the remainder in fixed wing aircraft - Tom's FAA Airmen Certificate No.2151090 includes Airline Transport pilot - Airplane- Multi Engine- Land and Rotorcraft-Helicopter. Commercial privileges- Airplane Single Engine Land and Glider. Tom also has a pilot license in Bermuda, Iran, and letter of authorization in United Arab Emirates. Tom also has a Flight Engineer Certificate-Turbojet Powered.