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.

                                       ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~