Thomas Weller McCarthy
No. 20531 Class of 1955
Hostile death, Vietnam 3 March 1964
aged 30 years.
Internment: Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia
So moved they calmly to the field,
Thence never to return,
Save bearing back the Spartan shield,
Or on it proudly borne.
Felicia Dorothea Hemans ( 1793-1835 )
On the 3d of March 1964, in the Republic of Vietnam, a young senior
advisor to 1st Vietnamese Airborne Battalion who had imbued the spirit
of these lines from The Spartans' March into his unit was, on this day,
himself sadly but proudly, borne from the field of battle. His shield
was a strong faith in God, a courage born in him as a soldier's son,
and a determination to fight for and protect what he believed in. Such
was the destiny of Thomas Weller McCarthy who lived as a soldier and
died as a soldier.
Tom was born in the post hospital at Fort John Hay near Baguio in the
mountains of Luzan on 30 April 1933. The camp, which had been designated
as a rest center, was located in a pleasant mountain retreat where U.S.
military personnel assigned in the Philippines could escape from the low
land heat. The family lived there while Tom's dad was assigned to one
of the two Igorote companies of the 45th Infantry (Philippine Scouts).
Tom's early years were spent in a number of locations, including
Washington, D.C., during World War II, and Chile, from 1947 to 1950. In
Chile, Tom was enrolled in St. George's College where the entire
curriculum, except for America history, was taught in Spanish. The
first six months were understandably difficult, but Tom quickly
developed a working knowledge of the language and actually became quite
fluent in it before the end of his dad's three year tour.
The family returned to Washington in 1950, and Tom, aged 17, was
enrolled in Sullivan's Prep with West point as his goal. After the
usual struggle for an appointment, he entered in July 1951 with the
class of 1955. As a cadet, Tom continued to develop the inborn
qualities of moral courage and physical stamina that were to serve him
so well throughout his short career, and to create lasting impressions
of greatness on all who came in contact with him. He participated in
many extracurricular activities including the Catholic Chapel choir and
the gymnastics team, and he was well known among his classmates for his
keen wit, quick laugh and rare sense of humor.
Tom was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry on 3 June
1955, and after completing the Basic Infantry Officer Course, began his
airborne training. This last was to become an intrinsic part of his
life. Tom's first duty assignment was with the 82d Airborne Division at
Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was to serve almost half his active
service with this division. In 1958 Tom went to Germany for duty with
the 24th infantry division, was in Lebanon during the 1958 crisis, and
returned in 1960 to the United States. While in Germany, Tom met
Lucille Berenice White, and upon his return to the States they were
married at Fort Benning on 23 April 1960. Tom commanded Company C,
325th Airborne Battle Group, 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg from
June 1961 to June 1962 at which time he joined Headquarters, XVIII
Airborne Corps as Secretary of the General Staff.
In May 1963, Tom, in the tradition of many West Pointers before
him, traveled half-way around the world to protect his own country and
to assist an ally in need. He was assigned as senior advisor to the 1st
Airborne Battalion of the Airborne Brigade. These were South Vietnam's
"elite" troops, the trouble-shooters who were called upon when things
got rough. On the 2d of March 1964, this battalion set out from its
home station at Ton Son Nhut Air Base towards the flat valley of the
Mekong River in Kien Phong province about 90 miles west of Saigon, a
little more than a mile from the border of Cambodia. Early next morning
Tom's and another battalion continued to advance on their assigned
objectives. Without warning, entrenched Viet Cong regulars opened fire
from three sides on the two advancing battalions, using automatic
weapons, mortars and recoilless rifles. When part of the Vietnamese
unit began to falter, Tom unhesitatingly began to rally them and to urge
them forward. After advancing across 75 yards of open ground, Tom was
felled, mortally wounded. But as a result of his heroic actions, the
Vietnamese troops continued to press forward forcing the VC to withdraw
across the Cambodian border.
Captain Charles R. Johnson, a classmate serving with Tom in
Vietnam, escorted his body back to the United States. He was buried
with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on 11 march
1964, just two months prior to his scheduled return to the States for
attendance at the Command and General Staff College.
Eulogies and letters of condolence from many of Tom's friends
helped to relieve the deep sorrow suffered by Berenice and their three
sons, Thomas Gerard, 3, Robert Weller, 2, and John Martin who was born
after Tom left for Vietnam.
At Ton Son Nhut Air Base, Tom's Vietnamese unit and his U.S.
contemporaries paid farewell homage to Tom at a plane-side ceremony. A
grateful Vietnamese government also made the posthumous award of the its
Medal of Honor, first class, the highest decoration which could be
presented to an American.
Tom was the first member of the Class of 1955 to become a
casualty of the Vietnamese War. For his heroism he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross, his own nation's second highest award for
bravery. It was the first award of this decoration to an Academy
graduate in the Vietnam action. Berenice accepted the award at
ceremonies at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 19 June 1964. Part of the
accompanying citation reads:
As casualties mounted rapidly and the friendly troops
were thrown into confusion, Captain McCarthy displayed complete
disregard for his own personal safety and unhesitatingly moved into the
inferno of hostile gun fire to organize the troops and establish an
effective base of operations. He then joined his counterpart with the
lead element and continued his brave efforts to rally encourage the
troops until he was mortally wounded.
A indication of the impact that Tom's leadership left on the men
he commanded was the request by every man in the 82d Division who had
served under him to attend his funeral at Arlington where they could pay
their last personal tribute to him.
As a monument to Tom's memory, an amphitheater at the corner of
Gruber Road and Bastogne Drive, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, has been
named in his honor. The Infantry School at Fort Benning also has
honored him by naming the parachute training building at Lawton Field
"McCarthy Hall".
Generals and soldiers alike were outspoken in their praise of
Tom. Their feelings can best be summed up in the words of Major General
Robert H. York, Commanding General of the 82d Airborne Division, when he
presented the Distinguished Service Cross to Tom's widow.
If the measure of a man's life can be based on the
respect and esteem he has gained among his associates, seniors,
subordinates, and peers, or on the contribution he makes to his country,
rather than on a span of years, then Captain McCarthy lived a full and
rich life.
It was a fitting tribute and to it I add this final salute to a
gallant soldier and a dear friend.
-- H.W.M.
I will always remember him as the best there was and the best there could
have been.
--WAH
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