Tom Wise
Valley Forge Jr. College
I was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on Dec. 14, 1945 the first son of Albert and Gertrude Wise. My brother James came on Sept. 1, 1949. We lived in Yardley, Pennsylvania through my high school years. I was graduating high school in 1963 and like many young men I was not sure of my future. College or get a job weighed on my mind. My interest were cars, fun, girls, sports and school; pretty much in that order. I had applied to college (would have been the first in my family to go) and after several rejections was accepted on probation to University of Boston and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Finally I had a full acceptance to Marysville College as a freshman. Yeah, I made it! My pride soared, until my father explained that he was not paying for his son to get a degree from a school named Marysville!!!
He suggested (when father suggested it was never optional) that I consider a prep-school for an extra year of high school. OK, that sounded better than work! Moving forward arrangements were made for me to interview at several prep schools in the area. Valley Forge Military Academy intrigued me since I was always interested in the Army and read many history books on World War II. My father had been seriously wounded with the 101st Airborne in Bastogne during the battle of the bulge in WWII. I always admired what he accomplished and wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Valley Forge offered a 2 year college program along with ROTC. I jumped at the chance to join the Corps of Cadets. My plebe year was quite rugged but I made it through and did well with my grades and excelled as a plebe achieving the 3rd highest in my class. After graduation I transferred to the University of Arizona (wanted to get as far away from the east coast as possible). .
Arizona’s junior and senior years were great, what a contrast; it made Valley Forge seem like a prison! Life was good and my grades were very good; I graduated with a degree in General Business and Economics. At the same time I completed my ROCT training but was very disappointed that I had been assigned to the Signal Corps. On my Army dream sheet (maybe that’s why they call it a Dream Sheet) my requested Service Branches were Armor, Infantry and Artillery, all combat arms – what did I do wrong to get Signal!! Disappointed as I was, I was honored to receive a Regular Army Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant instead of a Reserve Commission.
Reporting into the Army Dec. 1967
Reporting to my first post was a scary venture! Ft. Hood, Texas was a huge base, home to 2 large armored divisions. Was I ready? Time will only tell. I reported to my command and was assigned to the 2nd platoon B Company with the 142nd Signal Battalion, 2nd Armored. Two months later I started a 9 month progression through specialized training; Signal Officer Basic at Ft. Stewart, GA , Ranger School, Ft. Benning, GA, Advanced Signal Communication School, Ft. Momuth, NJ, Airborne Training & Demolitions, Ft. Benning, GA. and then back to Ft. Hood Texas.
2nd Lieutenant
Ranger School Ft. Benning, GA May1968
C123 Jump Plane
Ranger - Mountain Climbing Training
Mountain Ranger Camp, Dahlonega GA
Picture taken while I am coming down over Ft. Benning, GA
With Ranger Tab & Jump Wings
Ft. Benning, GA drop zone after 5th qualifying jump with Dad Sept 1968. Dad was with 502 Inf, 101st Airborne in Bastogne WWll.
Fort Hood Texas ~ 142 Signal Battalion, 2nd Armor Division
Reporting back to Fort Hood, spent the next months in the field on training exercises.
Ft. Hood, TX.
B Company Commander, 142 Signal Battalion, 2nd Armored Division
Change of Command Ceremony June 1968
Field Exercise
Vietnam
Oct. 1969
1 day in country - Bien Hoa
Outside Bunker
Rifle Range - Camp Evans
Assigned to 101st Airborne Division, 501st Signal Battalion, Camp Eagle - south of Hue
My Hooch
My Bunk Camp Eagle 101st Airborne
Bunker Line Sector Assigned To Me
Bunker
Looking out into Indian Country
Ready for my night on the bunker line
Looking back at Bunkers while on Patrol
Ready for patrol
Hue Citadel from chopper
View while on patrol with 502 Inf.
In Hospital after Injury. Friendly fire , hit with White Phosphorus rocket while working with 502 Inf.
Being transferred from Phu Bai Medical unit to Cam Ranh Bay
Med C130 flight from Phu Bai
WP burns to hand, Med unit at Cam Ranh Bay Dec. 1969
Transferred to 3rd Bn. 506 Infantry, 101st Airborne - Feb. 1970
Map of ll Corps
Army De Havilland U-6A 'Beaver' plane to An Khe
View of An Khe - new Home ~ Central Highlands
All I own - Going to the boonies
Army Convoy west along Hwy QL19 from An Kai to Pleiku ~ through
the mountainous & dangerous 'Mang Yang Pass'. (map below)
Convoy route to Pleiku for CA into Cambodia
Combat Assault into Cambodia - Crossing into Cambodia ~ May 6 1970
Fire Support Base Currahee ~ Cambodia (deep in Indian Country) May 7, 1970
Bringing in the goods to Fire Base ~ Currahee in Cambodia
Main TOC Bunker in Cambodia
Cleaning M16
All vegetion cleared with agent orange
New Plei Djereng Special Forces Base
Our rear area was next to this
College friend Lt. Paul Payette, 5th Special Forces in Nha Trang. Coordinating patrols back into Cambodia
Returning from Cambodia. Never though I be glad to be back in Vietnam
Departing Plei Djereng Special Forces Base
Good to clean up. Sgt. Green (left), served in WWll, Korea, 3rd tour in Vietnam
Mountain Yard Village near our FSB
Cleaning up a bit
Fighting position on hill top
Scout Chopper coming in
Beautiful Rain Storm Coming
Great time to take a Shower
Song Mau FSB being built
My great Fox Hole - Next to TOC
Saddle Up for Combat Assalt
July 1970 - somewhere in Central Highlands, II Corp
New Fire Base on ridge line
4.2" Mortar Firing
The good life
Getting off for patrol
Communicating with a patrol
November 1970,
Back to I Corps - Northern South Vietnam (near DMZ)
Chopper into FSB Birmingham, I Corps
FSB Birmingham, home for 2 weeks
CW2 Peter Waller, flew with him for last 8 weeks in a Loach
Ready to "GO HOME"
The guys I started with - last day in 506th
Ready to get on the 'Freedom Bird' and head east to the 'real world'.
I exited the Army on Dec. 14. 1970 in Ft. Lewis Washington.
In Jan 1971, I was hired by the Goodall Rubber Company as a management trainee. This 24 month program required that I join the union and work every manufacturing position and then hold specific management positions in production, development, engineering, sales and finance. At the conclusion of this I was assigned to a sales position in Philadelphia. After 27 years with Goodall I left in Jan. 1999 as V.P Sales and Marketing.
I was recruited to join The Novaflex Group as Senior VP, Corporate Development and was responsible for US operations. Novaflex is a North American hose manufacturing company specializing in rubber, composite and plastic hoses with factories in US, Canada and the UK.
In 1972, I met the love of my life, Judith A. Hand, at a local college hang out. We were married on May 6, 1973. Together we had 2 daughters, Nicole Allyson and Jennifer Ann. We lived in Pennsylvania until 1980, and then moved to Houston, TX for 11 years. We were transferred back to Pennsylvania for another 23 years. I am semi-retired and we now live at 304 Big Rock Path, Canton, GA 30114.
My wife, Judy retired from the Council Rock School System in Pennsylvania after teaching elementary school for 30 years. We have 5 grandchildren.
Awards
Tom and Judy Wise live here in Soleil now. Tom is the current President of the Soleil Vets Club.
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