“Dad was a character… He could sell an Eskimo a refrigerator… If you noticed his birthdate, November 10, 1925 – that was the 150th  of the US Marines. He was so Corps, he was born on the Marine’s birthday. In the Guard, all the former Marines referred to him as “Gunny”- Gunnery Sergeant, E-7 Marine rank. The memorial service was interesting, standing room only and a line that almost went around the block.

He was tough and didn’t tolerate laziness. I had to be up, bed made, and ready for the day. He sometimes said, “I can’t make you do it, but I can make you wish you had.” I heard that again as a young soldier. The Army was nothing new when I went in and the things he taught me served me well. When I was commissioned, he even gave me the first salute by a senior non-commissioned officer. I gave him the silver dollar. Upon his passing, his footlocker came to me and when going through it, I found the coin. Inscribed around the 2×2 frame: Tommy’s 1st Salute, 23 Aug 1980. I found other things that indicated he was proud of all his children.”