| Thomas P. Doody July 29,1948 - February 8,1971 |
Thomas P. Doody
July 29,1948 - February 8,1971
Thomas Patrick Doody was born, the fourth of seven children, to Jerry and Thelma in Chicago, Illinois, on July 29, 1948. He attended Visitation, St. Gabriel's, and St. Leo's grade schools on Chicago's south side. After the death of his father, Tom moved with his family to Grand Junction, Colorado, where he attended St. Joseph's grade school and Central High School, from which he graduated in 1967.
Tom was a precocious child, full of energy and mischief. He loved attention, which was difficult to get among seven children. Still, no one questioned his sincerity and intensity, which he could convey even before he could speak. His mother often laughed when recalling how a two-year old Tom convinced her, without actual words, that he had an acute appendix. He picked up the art of impersonation early and could easily nail a joke. He idolized his brother Michael and followed him everywhere, pitching pennies, playing kick-the-can, visiting Sherman Park and Brookfield Zoo. It was not surprising that, years later, at the age of 15, the purchase of his first car was a joint venture with Michael.
Tom seemed intrigued by the military even as a very young boy. His siblings recall him parading around in a uniform with the yellow epaulets left home by his oldest brother, Jerry, who was attending military school at Bishop Quarter in Peoria, IL. Tom loved the pomp and circumstance and the sense of honor. He was a very brave soldier at the Veterans' military funeral for his father, who was buried on Tom's tenth birthday.
His devotion to his family was certainly forged by this point, but he understood camaraderie naturally. He easily made new friends in Grand Junction. He served as an altar boy, played a baritone in the school band, and joined the Boy Scouts. His curiosity about new things seemed insatiable. He swam, he golfed, he played baseball, he rode horses, he bowled, he ice-skated, he roller-skated, he go-carted, he sang, he danced, he acted, all of these without any inhibition. But when he joined the Civil Air Patrol, his focus became set. He wanted to fly.
With his best friend, Marshall Davis, Tom pursued their shared ambition. They attended Rangely College, where they earned their degrees and pilot licenses. Joining the Army to serve their country fell logically into their desire to further their training in helicopters. Tom's enthusiasm for his obligations and dream was apparent when he visited his mother and every one of his siblings before his departure for Vietnam. He was confident in his commitment and in the cause. He flew over 225 combat missions before perishing in the Laotian Invasion of February, 1971. At the insistence of Tom's Mother, the Army authorized Tom's best friend, Marshall, to escort his remains home to Grand Junction, where Tom was buried in March, 1971. It was a fitting funeral for a fit pilot and soldier.
His accomplishments are now part of history, but the memories of his
comrades, family and friends, most respectfully, endure.
E-mail address is doody@earthlink.net.
