Tom gave his life for our country March 24, 1971 at Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam

Tom's Name Appears on "The Vietnam Wall", Washington DC Panel 04W  Line 074

The following information was gathered from "The Virtual Wall"
www.VIRTUALWALL.org   URL: www.virtualwall.org/ds/ShepherdTC01a.htm

PERSONAL DATA
    Home of Record:                      Ilion, NY
    Date of Birth:                       02/12/1942


MILITARY DATA
    Service:                               Army of the United States
    Grade at Loss:                         E 6
    Rank:                                  Sergeant First Class
    Note:                                  Posthumous Promotion as
indicated
    ID No.                                 053325379
    MOS:                                   11B40,
                                             Infantryman
    Length of Service:                     *****
    Unit:                                  B Co, 2nd Bn, 506th Infantry,
101st
Abn div, USARV

CASUALTY DATA
    Start of Tour:                         9/29/70
    Incident Date:                         3/24/1971
    Casualty Date:                         3/24/1971
    Age at Loss:                           29
    Location:                              Quang Tri Province, South
Vietnam
    Remains:                              Body Recovered
    Casualty Type:                        Hostile,
                                           died outright
    Casualty Reason:                      Ground casualty
    Casualty Detail:                      Gun or small
                                           arms fire

Tom was killed during his second tour of duty in Vietnam. 

His first tour in Vietnam was served with the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong River Delta. 
Tom was the recipient of the Silver Star  for bravery after he successfully rescued 
General William Westmoreland's son-in-law at Khe Sahn, Vietnam.
Among Tom's other awards were the Paratrooper badge as well 
as the Gallantry Cross, Order of Gallantry.

The Silver Star is awarded for valor in the face of the enemy. 
It's the 3rd highest decoration of the armed services awarded for heroism.

The Paratrooper Badge is worn by parachute-trained soldiers that are 
dropped to the battlefield from the air allowing them to be positioned in areas 
not accessible by land - a forced entry technique used to enter the theater of war.
The Gallantry Cross, Order of Gallantry, is awarded for going above and beyond 
the call of duty for valor in combat.