THE WALL OF FACES

Tom graduated from Waldron Academy in 1958. Coming from a somewhat large family, Tom and his three brothers attended St. Joe’s Prep School. He was a member of the rowing and swimming teams at St. Joe’s Prep where he graduated in 1962. Tom also rowed for the Vesper Boat Club and was a member of the Llanarch Country Club swimming team. During his high school years he taught his younger brother how to drive, row and smoke.

Tom attended college at the University of Pennsylvania for one full year on a Naval Reserve Office Corps scholarship. He then changed schools and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. At Annapolis, he tended to bend the rules; Tom owned a corvette and a motorcycle and according to his brother, participated in crazy carnival events such as wrestling an orangutan. Following graduation in 1967 he completed basic training at Marine Corps School in Quantico, Virginia.

Tom wrote letters to his family expressing how he had believed that the U.S. should have always been in Vietnam. From January ‘68 to May of that year his letters questioned how people were treated in Vietnam. He wrote to his family back home that he felt he was never coming back and that he was going to be killed in the war. This was after he had been wounded and had been awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for “Valor”.

Tom Weiss perished in the service of our country on May 18, 1968. He was killed by enemy rifle fire while on patrol near Quang Nam. His short life is an extraordinary tale of love, bravery, and tragedy all at the same time. He may be gone physically yet in reality, he will forever live in the hearts of those who knew him.

Today a new generation of high school students learn about Tom Weiss as they learn about the Vietnam War at Upper Darby High School. We remember his service to our nation and his courage. We honor his memory. Semper Fi Tom

I will be honoring the memory of Thomas Joesph Weiss as our class visits the Vietnam Memorial Wall during our class trip to Washington D.C. Can you help me learn about him? My name is Josh. I can be reached through my teacher Mr. Tatum at Upper Darby High School in PA. His E-mail address is [email protected]

Tom was my classmate and company mate at the Naval Academy. He was courageous and a man of great integrity. He and his two roomates stuck together like brothers. I miss Tom. He was a big, lovable guy.