Posted by Don Sheehan on December 18, 2007:

Since Tom was in L-2 and I was in D-2 I saw little of him during our cadet days. We both chose Air Force, however, and I met Tom in Marana, AZ; our primary pilot training base. He applied himself both diligently and with a keen sense of humor as our civilian instructors taught us to fly the T-34 and T-28. After Marana I never saw Tom again - until the first day of our 50th Reunion. As I opened the car door, there he was, relaxing comfortably on a bench at the hotel's entrance, with a smile from ear to ear, welcoming me by name to the celebration. I was surprised that I also recognized Tom. We enjoyed a warm conversation as I unloaded the car, then went in to register. We talked several more times during the reunion events, and each time a smile covered his face. The fact that Tom and I never attended classes together, were not sports teammates or members of the same cadet club or chapel squad, yet recognized each other instantly at the reunion after an absence of 49 years tells me something about the Class of 1956, something about why he and I are both so proud to be members of it.

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