Posted by Keith Garner on June 1, 2011:

I met Tom during Beast Barracks in 6th Company and we were in A-2 together. One of my earliest memories of Tom was learning he had a beautiful sister! We had many classes together and had fun together in A-2. After graduation, we attended Airborne, Ranger, and Artillery Officer Basic Course together. Toward the end of the basic course, he, Nick Rowe, John Denton, Pat Flannery, Bill Bailey, Jim Pearl, Fred Rice, Jack Hixon, J.J. York, Bert Spivy, Dan Orr, Don Prosser, Jim Hopper, and I (and others) voluntered for Special Forces. When we arrived at Special Forces headquarters at Ft. Bragg, we discovered Artillery Career Branch had played a trick on us and Special Forces -- Special wanted experienced 1st Lieutenants, not inexperienced 2nd Lieuteants, so the cadre dubbed us "DASLs" (Dumb A__ Second Lieutenants) and tried to run us off. All of us were so stubborn, none left. Tom did well and was picked to be Aide d' Camp to General Yarborough, the commanding general of th Special Warfare Center. I was devasted by Tom's unexpected death and miss him sorely. Keith Garner A-2

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