THE WALL OF FACES

I served with Tom during the short time he was in the field prior to his death. He wasn't with us long enough for me to get to know him very well. I helped the medic, the LT, and another squad leader keep Tom alive while we waited for a dustoff, so the memory of Tom's death has been with me since it happened.

There were a lot of heroic actions the night Tom was killed. Without regard for their own safety, guys started feverishly chopping a hole in the canopy so that the dustoff could lower a litter to us. One of our guys climbed up into the very top of the tallest tree so that he could hold a strobe light up above the canopy to mark our position. We used every available light source so that we could see what we were doing as we worked on our fallen brother. Unfortunately he died on the way to the hospital.

For 25 years I couldn't remember his name. I searched old letters I had written home and through documents that I had saved. Then when the internet came along, I started searching it for clues. Finally a friend pointed me to a web site that helped me identify Tom.

I have a dedication on my web site to Tom and other friends that I lost in Vietnam. My web site is at http://anoslack.com.

Tom, I apologize for the time it took me to find you. I never forgot you.

No Slack and welcome home, Brother.

As a fellow Buckeye, I say "THANK YOU"

As a Veteran, I say "JOB WELL DONE"

As an American, "YOUR DEATH WAS NOT IN VAIN"

And as a Believer, "YOUR SPIRIT IS ALIVE--AND STRONG"

Again, thank you for your valiant and courageous service, faithful contribution, and most holy sacrifice given to this great country of ours! ETERNAL PEACE MY FRIEND

Brother Tom, you have met your “Rendezvous with Destiny”! We will never forget the sacrifice you made.

No Slack!
Your 327th Brothers http://screamingeagles-327thvietnam.com

My earliest memories are those living with my cousin Tom in Niles, Ohio. My family moved away when I was six and sadly, I didn't get to see much of Tom after that. He did visit us just before he went off to Vietnam. I just wanted to post a picture of him...and to say that I miss him.

-----Original Message-----
From: Krezeczowski, Alan W. LTC
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 1999 7:31 PM
To: 'robert honzu'
Subject: RE: A memory


BOB,
Maybe you could add a few words for Tom. I felt it was important to try and capture who these great Americans were. You grew up with Tom, David Orwig, and Jeff Fleck's brother all killed at the height of their life.
Ironic... I watched 60 minutes last night and saw Bob Wallace interviewing some American army helicopter pilots who landed during the MAI LAI incident when our soldiers killed civilians. I became infuriated because they showed the dead women and children and once again showed the youth of today our Vietnam Vets perpetuting the negative labels not worth dignifying on this page. 60 minutes did not show the dead Americans like Tom and Dave who were in combat on the ground watching their friends get blown to pieces and butchered by the Viet Cong...I have...over a half a million men and women served in Vietnam and none of them deserve the label the media has perpetuated. 60 minutes and CNN have slandered our men and women for to long now. 60 minutes did little to mention the fact that our men were court martialed and imprisoned. I was at Ft Benning when CAPT Medina was court martialed and rightfully so.
Tom was always a hero to me and I looked up to him for the self sacrifice, blood and sweat he put into the game of football. Tom breathed fire and tore into his opponents but after the game he genuinely opened up his heart and took the hand of the other men lavishing them with praise and respect. He was the scrappiest and most fearless guy I remember from a lot of real men back then. He knew no defeat.
I wish I knew more about what happened to him...maybe others will contact us. I have served 25 years now in the military and have never forgotten the price we pay for freedom with the lives of the best and brightest among us. I missed them then and I miss them today......


Happy Holidays

Alan W. Krezeczowski "SKI" One team, One fight
Alan W. Krezeczowski "Ski"
LTC, USA
SPECIAL FORCES/AIRBORNE/RANGER
Special Operations, Operations and Plans, Joint Doctrine Branch
(SOOP-PJ-D)
e-mail unclass: krezeca@socom.mil
DSN: 299-3114 fax 299-9805 coml: 813-828-3114 fax 813-828-9805


-----Original Message-----
From: robert honzu [mailto:robhonzu@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 1999 8:43 AM
To: Krezeczowski, Alan W. LTC
Subject: A memory


Alan , my name is Rob Honzu. I am from Niles ,Ohio. I was looking up an old
long lost friend in the Vietnam Memorial site . When I was done I
remembered Tom Catlin. When I look him up I saw your comments. They were
well spoken words. Tom and I only lived about 10 houses apart but for some
reason we never became friends. We went to school together for 7 years,
played little league together. But it always seemed after class or after the
game we went our seperate ways. Its sad when you look back and see the
friendships you didn't have because nobody made the smallest effort. Once
again your words on Tom's behalf we warm and obviously heart felt. Everyone
should be remembered by a friend.

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