Today
is Memorial Day, once called Decoration Day, and so it seems fitting
that I write about my only son, Thomas, whom we always called T.C.
because his father was also named Thomas.
T.C. grew up in a middle class neighborhood, led a normal life,
was always healthy, and took pride in his appearance and his health.
He went out for cross-country running in High School but.... his
love was Baseball! The greatest time of his life was when he was
chosen to attend Baseball Camp up in Williamsport, Pa. Whenever
he had to write a book report, he wrote about Babe Ruth. His goal
was to become a professional ball player.
T's birthday was December 7th and this number was one of the early
ones pulled out of the fishbowl in the draft. In the summer following
graduation from Pennsauken High School, he knew it wouldn't be long
before Uncle Sam got around to him so he took a job with the township
in the public works department.
On September 17, 1970, he was assigned to duty in Viet Nam, after
training in boot camp at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was placed in Battery
C, 1st Battalion, 92nd Artillery. After 4 months, on February 1,
1971 he was killed as a result of wounds received in action.
T. C. was not one to show his emotions - that would not make him
a macho man. Unfortunately, that is not a trait taken from his mother,
as this has been difficult to relive on a day when they have sounded
"taps."
