Thomas Wysocki: Infantry and Combat Engineer

By Vince Kelly, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

Corporal Tom Wysocki knew from a young age he wanted to serve his country. He came from a small family with one older sister and grew up on the southwest side of Chicago, near Archer and Harlem. Tom had an uncle who died in the Battle of the Bulge and another who fought in the Pacific during WWII.

Tom was inspired by John Wayne’s character Sgt. Striker in the movie “Sands of Iwo Jima.”  Tom chose to enlist at the age of 17 while still in high school; a dozen friends followed shortly after being inspired by his service.

Tom trained sixteen weeks in San Diego at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) to become a combat engineer. He also spent four weeks in the School of Infantry (SOI West) at the Camp San Onofre area of Camp Pendleton. 

While in Vietnam, Tom was stationed at points from Quảng Nam to Da Nang. It took Tom twenty-three days on a Navy ship to get to Vietnam. During the trip over, a Navy commander tried to make the Marines chip paint. Tom’s commander swiftly stepped in. “Marines don’t chip paint,” he said, “they fight wars!” Tom spent most of his time working out and preparing himself for battle. 

When he arrived, his base was a massive industrial complex as far as he could see. When he did get to the jungle, it was as he had imagined. Hot as hell, wet as wet can be and full of mosquitos the size of birds. One of the things he looked forward to most were treats from home. Mom would send apple slices that she had soaked in brandy. After the long trek from home to Vietnam, they were quite potent! When Tom passed some out to friends, he noticed before long they were all feeling the effects from the brandy-soaked apples.

Tom served from July 7, 1964 to June 7, 1968 and started as a combat engineer, transporting fuel to vehicles on the front line. Driving massive tankers of fuel in combat zones was like riding in a bomb with a target on it. Tom always preferred a truck full of fuel, because as he said, “It’s the fumes that will kill you.” He performed those duties for six months during his first tour of duty. Then he was sent home for sixteen months. 

He then returned for a second tour as a grunt for the Echo 2 Battalion 27th Marines. They traveled mostly at night in small groups of 9-10 guys. As a grunt, he sometimes travelled by helicopter and trucks, but mostly by foot. Grunt life meant sleeping in hardbacks and tents, eating C-rations and occasionally getting to the “Beer Bust” a military bar, drinking with friends when he could.

They endured many harrowing situations. One that stands out to him is when they were advancing on the enemy and approaching some railroad tracks. There was gunfire everywhere and rockets exploding nearby. They entered mud so thick they were completely stuck. The effort it took to pull his foot out left his boot in the mud; they all ended up in their bare feet crawling out of the mud. They were lucky to get out alive.

Another time a squad member tripped a booby trap. The man needed an emergency tracheotomy with a ballpoint pen. Tom held the pen in place until the medic could stabilize it. He then helped load his fellow Marine into the helicopter to get him to a hospital. Just before it came time for Tom to go home, his platoon walked into a massive firefight. They were fighting for their lives for days. Tom didn’t want to leave. He knew his training and effort could save lives. “The more you sweat and train the less you bleed”  he said. But Tom had no choice in the matter and had to head home. Tom looked forward to seeing his family and getting some home cooking and more of those apple slices.

Tom had left for Vietnam as a boy and came back a responsible, mature man. Unfortunately, Tom also brought home effects from Agent Orange and suffers from Parkinson’s due to it.  There are times when Tom will hear a car backfire and he ducks for cover. Even with these bad effects, Tom says he would do it all over again.

Tom’s service prepared him for his career as an officer for the Cook County Sheriff’s Police. He worked 27 years in the south suburbs before retiring.

Tom met his lovely wife Carolyn in 1989. They have been married for 28 years. They met at Nikos Restaurant when Carolyn broke a heel on her shoe while dancing. Tom promised to fix it, but he didn’t. It was, however, just the ice breaker he needed. Tom is a proud husband and grandfather of three.

Honor Flight Chicago salutes you, Tom, for a lifetime of service and sacrifice to your country! Enjoy your well-deserved day of honor in Washington D.C.