|
WALTER THOMAS “TOMMY” GROW was born 30 May 1932, in Louisville, KY. Born while his father, Robert Walker Grow, was S-3 of the First Cavalry Regiment (Mechanized) at Ft. Knox, KY, Tommy was the first Cavalry baby (Mechanized).
As Tommy wrote in an 11th grade autobiography, he became a “true camp follower.” By Tommy’s 18th birthday he had “tagged along” with his father to various schools, staffs, and units at seven locations during thirteen changes of station. He learned the art of communication in ten schools, climbed an 18,000-foot mountain in Iran, graduated from high school as “most likely to succeed,” and entered West Point in July 1950 with the Class of 1954.
Nevertheless, West Point was tough on Tommy. He had had no prep school training, but he survived three years of academics (ranking 462 out of 660), fought through with low military aptitude evaluations by choosing to stay in the same cadet company (B-1), and, typically, had a big smile on his face when he was not being chewed out or tackling an opponent. His B-1 companymates remember Tommy as a very thoughtful and considerate fellow cadet, who always got along well with his roommates.
On 12 Aug 1953, Tommy was on First Class leave at home in Falls Church, VA. His brother was in Korea at the time. Tommy came home from an exhausting day swimming in a neighbor’s pool and went to bed in his upstairs room. That evening, an electrical fire engulfed the room so fast that the valiant rescue efforts of his father, then MG Robert Walker Grow, were unsuccessful. Tommy succumbed to smoke inhalation.
BG J.H. Michaelis, Acting Superintendent of the Military Academy at the time of Tommy’s death, made the announcement of the tragedy in the following statement:
It is my sad duty to announce with deep regret the death of Cadet Walter Thomas Grow, Class of 1954, United States Corps of Cadets, whose death occurred of accidental causes while on leave of absence at his home, Falls Church, Virginia. Burial with military honors will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, on 14 Aug 1953.
The late Cadet Grow had a brother, 1LT Robert Marshall Grow ’50, Infantry. Cadet Grow was appointed to the United States Corps of Cadets by the Honorable J. Caleb Boggs, Representative in Congress from the State of Delaware at Large. Prior to his joining the Corps of Cadets on 5 Jul 1950, he had been graduated from the Ayer High School, Ayer, Massachusetts, and had previously attended an English junior high school in Tehran, Iran.
While at the United States Military Academy, Cadet Grow was at all times proficient in his academic studies, attaining his highest grades in the subjects of Spanish, English, mathematics, social sciences, mechanics and electricity. In addition to his academic duties, he participated actively in the intramural sports of football, swimming, water polo, golf, cross-country, soccer and lacrosse. He was a member of the Cadet Chapel Choir, Debate Council, Camera Club, Sailing Club, Spanish Club, and Weight-Lifting Club. During his High School attendance he was a member of football and basketball squads, and served as assistant editor of the school year book and as assistant editor of his school paper, in addition to his participation in musical entertainment and dramatics.
Personally and on behalf of the officers, cadets, and other members of this command, I wish to convey to the bereaved parents and to the family of the late Cadet Grow, the sincere sympathy and condolence that is expressed by all. Cadet Grow’s unfortunate and untimely death is mourned as a distinct and regrettable loss to all who knew him well.
Tommy’s family fondly remembers his smile. Keep smiling, Tom.
— RMG (his brother)
|
