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Thomas John Wachowski was born in Chicago, IL, on 9 Feb
1932, to Judge Eugene L. and Rose B. Wachowski. He had an older brother, Giles
(Guy), and a younger sister, Doris. Tom grew up in a loving environment and
always maintained a positive outlook on life. His mother taught him how to dance
the polka, and he enjoyed many fishing trips with his father. He attended high
school at St. Patrick’s Academy, graduating in 1950.
Tom entered West Point in July 1950. He made friends easily,
smoothly made the transition into the military regimen, and handily escaped
upper class ire. He was a Catholic acolyte each year, and a member of the
Handball, Pistol, Radio, and Golf Clubs. Following graduation, he received a
commission in the Air Force. He attended primary and basic flight training at
Spence AB and Laredo AFB and advanced flight training in the F-86D “Sabre” at
Perrin AFB.
Tom’s first operational assignment, in late 1955, was with the
newly formed 324th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Westover AFB, MA. Early in
the Cold War, the unit’s mission was to intercept and destroy attacking Soviet
bombers. His duties alternated between training missions and standing 24-hour
periods of alert, requiring armed aircraft to become airborne in under five
minutes. A classmate serving with Tom noted he was the dependable “backbone” of
the squadron.
In 1958, Tom and other members of the 324th were deployed to Sidi
Slimane AB in Morocco. While there, one of the planes went missing in the
desert. A rescue party that included Tom was dispatched to search for the pilot.
When the rescue party located the plane, they were surrounded by tribesmen from
the area and taken to a tent. Not knowing the tribal language made communication
with their captors impossible. They were treated well, almost like guests, but
knew that they were prisoners. The Air Force dispatched an interpreter, who
negotiated their release. Years later, while stationed in Maryland, Tom shared
this story with some neighbors. One of those present said in surprise, “That was
me. I was the interpreter.”
Arriving at Geiger Air Force Base, Spokane, WA, in the fall of
1959, Tom became assistant base operations officer. On a blind date that New
Year’s Eve, he met Eleanore Miller. Tom’s promotion from lieutenant to captain
took effect at midnight. Eleanore changed the rank insignia on his uniform as
they kissed. She likes to tell of the date where she went out with a lieutenant
but left with a captain. They were married on 22 October 1960.
Through the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) program, Tom
attended the University of Pittsburgh from January 1962 to August 1963. Upon
graduating with a master of science in industrial engineering, he was assigned
duties in the Civilian Institute Division of AFIT Headquarters, Wright Patterson
AFB, OH. As academic program manager, he monitored the progress of 300 to 400
officers and airmen studying at academic institutions throughout the U.S.
In 1966, following flight training in the O-1E “BirdDog” single
engine spotter aircraft, Tom was deployed to Khe Sanh, Republic of Viet Nam, as
a forward air controller. He flew missions in support of ground forces, spotting
the enemy on the ground and directing fighter bombers to engage them. He flew 229
combat missions with valor. Forty of the missions were over North Viet Nam. For
his service to his country, he was awarded several medals, including the
Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, fourteen Air Medals, and the Army
Commendation Medal.
After taking Operations Research classes at the University of
Pittsburgh through AFIT from 1967 to 1969, he was assigned to various Air Force
bases in the Washington, DC, area. At Andrews, he worked in the Plans and
Applications Office of the Air Force Systems Command; at Bolling, he was
assigned to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Tom always found time
for his family, however, whether the activity was building model rockets with
the kids, barbequing, or taking the family on weekend camping trips to enjoy a
little fishing.
Following retirement as a lieutenant colonel on 29 Feb 1976, Tom
was employed by the Institute for Advanced Computation in Alexandria, VA. He was
involved in the research of scientific applications for the ILLIAC IV, the
world’s fastest parallel processing computer at the time. This work afforded him
the opportunity to interface with other scientific research organizations
worldwide via the ARPANET, which was the forerunner of the Internet.
On the evening of 3 Nov 1977, Tom headed to a Parish Council
Meeting. The pounding rain created poor visibility. A woman stood next to her
car at a busy intersection, trying to wave down motorists with a flashlight. Her
car battery had died, so there were no lights on her car. Tom pulled in behind
her. As he was getting flares from his trunk, a car struck him, killing him
instantly. He left behind his wife Eleanore; their six children, Thomas, Eugene,
David, Rose Ann, Robert and Mark; and many loving memories. The following
tribute, entitled “He was That Kind of Man,” was written by a very good friend,
Ann Aberg, and given to Eleanore on the day of Tom’s funeral:
“Car Kills Helpful P.G. Motorist”
So read the headline—
He was that kind of man …
Rage inflames the breasts of friends and kin;
Sorrow consumes their hearts and minds.
Why this man?
Husband and lover,
Father,
Devout man of God,
Leader of Boy Scouts,
Fisherman, camping buddy,
Handy-handed neighbor, friend to all …
God, did You really need him now?
Cry out the loved ones.
YES, I DID!
He has left sweet memories for his Eleanore,
A vast heritage of example for his T.J.,
Eugene, David, Rose Ann, Bob and Mark,
And friendship to all whom he has known.
He was that kind of man.
Thomas J. Wachowski,
February 9, 1932 – November 3, 1977
—Lovingly written by his family and friends
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