Posted by Roger Cotton on February 29, 2000:

I was Tommie's roommate at E-1. While we were at the Point together, he challenged me, numerous times to think, rather than blindly accept what others were doing or seeing or saying. He had a great wit about him and and could make anyone laugh. Like others, I knew that Tommie would go on to be a great playwright or actor or something better than the rest of us, destined to live our lives on the stage set by others. Tommie was a leader and had God-given talents that set him apart. Tommie was the first and only casualty from the war that I heard about. His death really saddened me. Any death is sad, but I hated to see Tommie leave so soon from this world and I hated that he died in an accident enroute to a job interview with a general. There is no glory in war, but death is a little easier to accept when it is in a valorous action. Tommie left us, in God's timing, and I am grateful for the time we did have together. I miss him and wish I could share those thoughts with his family.

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