THE WALL OF FACES

MY UNCLE
My Uncle, Thomas Michael Skally was born on April 27, 1947. He was the youngest of 4 children born to Fray and Carl Skally and shared the same birthday as his older brother John.

Thomas was always a happy kid and liked to make others laugh, and that carried onto his young adult life also. After graduating from High School in 1966, he joined the Marines. He went to Vietnam initially in the fall of 1966.

By some coincidence, his brother John was in Vietnam at the same time, and same place. John was back at his battalion area for medical treatment and while there he went to the enlisted men's club which was little more than a tent with some coolers. He noticed another guy that looked a lot like his brother so he approached him. The guy was, indeed, his brother Tom. They spent the evening talking and catching up and the next morning they went to Tom's company commander and informed him of the situation. Tom was quickly reassigned to a duty station in Hawaii while John finished out his tour.

I spoke with another marine who was in Hawaii during that time with Tom, and he also reaffirmed that Tom was a great guy, always willing to help a friend out and would do almost anything to get a laugh. His time in Hawaii, by his account was filled with friends and some R&R.

Tom was sent back to Vietnam January 1969 to the Quang Nam area of South Vietnam. This area, known as the "Arizona Territory" was characterized by constant sniping. Sometime in January Tom was promoted from Lance Corporal to Corporal. One of the last letters he sent home to his mother proudly proclaimed this. He was proud to be a marine and proud to be serving his country.

On Feb 18, 1969, while on patrol, Cpl Skally's squad was on point. They encountered a sniper. The pointman, PFC Gunderson was shot. My Uncle Cpl Skally, went to rescue him and was also shot. Both men were killed.

Tom was an expert rifleman and was awarded the purple heart and good conduct medals. Chief Warrant Officer Dennis Powers stated for an interview, "I fought with Skally. Rest assured, he fought with courage and honor as a US Marine."

I have no memories of my own of my Uncle Tommy, yet I feel I know his spirit. I grew up knowing Tommy through family stories.

I met him once when I was a baby just about a month before he died. On the day Tom went back to Vietnam, my mom was smart enough to capture a picture of Tom, with me on his lap, and my grandfather, Tom's father while we were at the airport saying goodbye. It would be the last time we would see him, and that picture is a treasured memory.

Uncle Tom lives through our stories and memories of him. His name is on the wall behind me as at the national memorial wall in Washington along with so many other young men. My children also have grown up hearing about Uncle Tommy. Tom was only 21 when he died, just 2 months shy of his 22nd birthday. Although he did not walk this earth for long, I know he left a mark on everyone's life he touched.

Services like this help us to remember those who have fallen and in doing so, we honor them. We need to keep their memories alive and continue to tell their stories so that they too can be remembered for generations to come.

Thank you to all those who served, and especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. God Bless.

MY UNCLE
My Uncle, Thomas Michael Skally was born on April 27, 1947. He was the youngest of 4 children born to Fray and Carl Skally and shared the same birthday as his older brother John.
Thomas was always a happy kid and liked to make others laugh, and that carried onto his young adult life also. After graduating from High School in 1966, he joined the Marines. He went to Vietnam initially in the fall of 1966.
By some coincidence, his brother John was in Vietnam at the same time, and same place. John was back at his battalion area for medical treatment and while there he went to the enlisted men's club which was little more than a tent with some coolers. He noticed another guy that looked a lot like his brother so he approached him. The guy was, indeed, his brother Tom. They spent the evening talking and catching up and the next morning they went to Tom's company commander and informed him of the situation. Tom was quickly reassigned to a duty station in Hawaii while John finished out his tour.
I spoke with another marine who was in Hawaii during that time with Tom, and he also reaffirmed that Tom was a great guy, always willing to help a friend out and would do almost anything to get a laugh. His time in Hawaii, by his account was filled with friends and some r&r.
Tom was sent back to Vietnam January 1969 to the Quang Nam area of South Vietnam. This area, known as the "Arizona Territory" was characterized by constant sniping. Sometime in January Tom was promoted from Lance Corporal to Corporal. One of the last letters he sent home to his mother proudly proclaimed this. He was proud to be a marine and proud to be serving his country.
On Feb 18, 1969, while on patrol, Cpl Skally's squad was on point. They encountered a sniper. The pointman, PFC Gunderson was shot. My Uncle Cpl Skally, went to rescue him and was also shot. Both men were killed.

Tom was an expert rifleman and was awarded the purple heart and good conduct medals. Chief Warrant Officer Dennis Powers stated for an interview, "I fought with Skally. Rest assured, he fought with courage and honor as a US Marine."
I have no memories of my own of my Uncle Tommy, yet I feel I know his spirit. I grew up knowing Tommy through family stories.
I met him once when I was a baby just about a month before he died. On the day Tom went back to Vietnam, my mom was smart enough to capture a picture of Tom, with me on his lap, and my grandfather, Tom's father while we were at the airport saying goodbye. It would be the last time we would see him, and that picture is a treasured memory.
Uncle Tom lives through our stories and memories of him. His name is on the wall behind me as at the national memorial wall in Washington along with so many other young men. My children also have grown up hearing about Uncle Tommy. Tom was only 21 when he died, just 2 months shy of his 22nd birthday. Although he did not walk this earth for long, I know he left a mark on everyone's life he touched.
Services like this help us to remember those who have fallen and in doing so, we honor them. We need to keep their memories alive and continue to tell their stories so that they too can be remembered for generations to come.
Thank you to all those who served, and especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. God Bless.

Corporal Thomas Michael Skally, Served with the 3rd Platoon, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

This Veteran's Day, I am working to keep your memory alive. Although I have no memories of my own of you, I feel I know your spirit. I have come to know you through little stories I have heard about you, and even through the postings of strangers on various sites. You had a kind spirit and were a jokester of sorts. You are always in our hearts and not tucked far away in our memories.