In Memory Of
Thomas D. Campbell, Sr.
Thomas D. Campbell, Sr.
The following obituary was handwritten by our father on April 1, 2000, five months after the death of our mother. He requested that it be published in its entirety with only minor revisions. It was his desire that his service to his country is known and the hardships for his family be acknowledged. With respect, pride, and love, we are honoring his request. (The children of Thomas and Emily Campbell)
Thomas David Campbell Sr. was born 27 September 1921 in Petrolia, Pennsylvania, to Clide Kerr and Susan Rebecca Campbell. They moved briefly to Karns City, Pennsylvania, then to Chicora, Pennsylvania, where his parents purchased a home on Green Street. He lived there until he joined the United States Army. He died at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Manhattan, Kansas, on 14 March 2008.
Thomas attended all twelve years of school in Chicora, graduating from high school in May 1940. He enlisted in the United States Army on 5 September 1940 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended basic training at Raritan Arsenal, New Jersey and advanced training at George G. Meade, Maryland. He attended and completed several military service schools including Clerical and First Sergeant School, Raritan Arsenal, New Jersey; the US Naval Explosive Ordinance Disposal School, Indian Head, Maryland; Special Weapons Disposal School, Sandia Base, New Mexico; Infantry School, Ft. Benning, Georgia.
He served 27 months in Iceland during the Battle of the Atlantic and served in South Wales, Great Britain, for the upcoming invasion of Europe. He was deployed on 6 June 1944, H + 1hour in support of the 1st Infantry and 29th Infantry Divisions at Omaha Red Beachhead. He served through the Battle of ST LO, the Battle of Bulge, and the taking of Aachen, Germany. He deployed for home at Remagen Bridgehead. He had served 42 months and 8 days overseas duty on what was to have been a 6 month tour in Iceland- WWII changed the world forever. He was discharged under the point system from Ft. Dix, New Jersey in May 1945. He worked briefly for the Pullman Standard Car Mfg. Co. Since his wife was still in Wales with their baby daughter, he re-enlisted for occupation duty in Germany. His wife got orders for transportation to this country and after a ten day leave extension to get her settled with his parents, he was off again to Germany. His second daughter was born, and his wife and two daughters were then allowed to join him in Hamburg, Germany. Unfortunately, his wife became seriously ill and was transported back to Valley Forge Army Hospital and then to Fitzsimmons Army Hospital, Aurora, Colorado. Since he had no medical experience, he was assigned to the Military Police Unit at each of the hospitals. At Fitzsimmons he was assigned as Assistant Chief Clerk, Provost Marshals Office. He was promoted to Sergeant First Class in this position. After three years, wife Emily was discharged and did well thereafter, bearing two sons. He was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. A few months later he was assigned to Korea where he spent 22 months as Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal Supervisor with the 16th Ordnance Detachment. He returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to pick up his family and moved to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. In 1958 he was reassigned to an EOD unit in Vogelweh, Germany where he served until 1963. He was then assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, the 1st Infantry Division as the Division Ammunition NCO in the office of the Ammunition Officer. He remained in that position, going to Vietnam with the Division where he spent 13 months. Upon return from Vietnam, he was assigned to Redstone Arsenal where he was Senior Instructor at the Ammunition and Special Weapons School. He retired from the service in May 1967 in the grade of Master Sergeant E8. Following his military service he worked for the American Red Cross, USD 475, the Junction City Library, the First Baptist Church daycare, and ran a small painting and handyman business.
In addition to various Service Medals, the Good Conduct Medal, several letters of commendation and appreciation from Commanders, he was the recipient of four Department of the Army Commendation Medals.
He was preceded in death by Emily, his beloved wife of 56 years whom he married in Truro, England in 1944; his parents; his brothers Clyde, Frank, and George; his sisters Caroline and Alice. Surviving are his four children: Sylvia S. Campbell, a graduate of Penn State University and retired school administrator of San Jose, CA; Alicia Campbell Paris, an instructor of Cosmetology of Manhattan, KS; Thomas D. Campbell Jr., a graduate of the University of Kansas and registered nurse in Portland, OR; Michael E. Campbell a licensed cosmetologist and manager of a salon in Overland Park, KS. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, his sister in law Muriel Thomas of South Wales, and numerous nieces and nephews.
At his request, his cremated remains will be scattered along with those of his wife. Memorial will be private. In lieu of flowers he requests that donations be made to Special Olympics in the name of Thatcher M. Campbell in memory of Grandpa Tom.
Penwell-Gabel Johnson Funeral Chapel, Junction City, KS has assisted the family with cremation services.
Thomas David Campbell Sr. was born 27 September 1921 in Petrolia, Pennsylvania, to Clide Kerr and Susan Rebecca Campbell. They moved briefly to Karns City, Pennsylvania, then to Chicora, Pennsylvania, where his parents purchased a home on Green Street. He lived there until he joined the United States Army. He died at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Manhattan, Kansas, on 14 March 2008.
Thomas attended all twelve years of school in Chicora, graduating from high school in May 1940. He enlisted in the United States Army on 5 September 1940 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended basic training at Raritan Arsenal, New Jersey and advanced training at George G. Meade, Maryland. He attended and completed several military service schools including Clerical and First Sergeant School, Raritan Arsenal, New Jersey; the US Naval Explosive Ordinance Disposal School, Indian Head, Maryland; Special Weapons Disposal School, Sandia Base, New Mexico; Infantry School, Ft. Benning, Georgia.
He served 27 months in Iceland during the Battle of the Atlantic and served in South Wales, Great Britain, for the upcoming invasion of Europe. He was deployed on 6 June 1944, H + 1hour in support of the 1st Infantry and 29th Infantry Divisions at Omaha Red Beachhead. He served through the Battle of ST LO, the Battle of Bulge, and the taking of Aachen, Germany. He deployed for home at Remagen Bridgehead. He had served 42 months and 8 days overseas duty on what was to have been a 6 month tour in Iceland- WWII changed the world forever. He was discharged under the point system from Ft. Dix, New Jersey in May 1945. He worked briefly for the Pullman Standard Car Mfg. Co. Since his wife was still in Wales with their baby daughter, he re-enlisted for occupation duty in Germany. His wife got orders for transportation to this country and after a ten day leave extension to get her settled with his parents, he was off again to Germany. His second daughter was born, and his wife and two daughters were then allowed to join him in Hamburg, Germany. Unfortunately, his wife became seriously ill and was transported back to Valley Forge Army Hospital and then to Fitzsimmons Army Hospital, Aurora, Colorado. Since he had no medical experience, he was assigned to the Military Police Unit at each of the hospitals. At Fitzsimmons he was assigned as Assistant Chief Clerk, Provost Marshals Office. He was promoted to Sergeant First Class in this position. After three years, wife Emily was discharged and did well thereafter, bearing two sons. He was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. A few months later he was assigned to Korea where he spent 22 months as Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal Supervisor with the 16th Ordnance Detachment. He returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to pick up his family and moved to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. In 1958 he was reassigned to an EOD unit in Vogelweh, Germany where he served until 1963. He was then assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, the 1st Infantry Division as the Division Ammunition NCO in the office of the Ammunition Officer. He remained in that position, going to Vietnam with the Division where he spent 13 months. Upon return from Vietnam, he was assigned to Redstone Arsenal where he was Senior Instructor at the Ammunition and Special Weapons School. He retired from the service in May 1967 in the grade of Master Sergeant E8. Following his military service he worked for the American Red Cross, USD 475, the Junction City Library, the First Baptist Church daycare, and ran a small painting and handyman business.
In addition to various Service Medals, the Good Conduct Medal, several letters of commendation and appreciation from Commanders, he was the recipient of four Department of the Army Commendation Medals.
He was preceded in death by Emily, his beloved wife of 56 years whom he married in Truro, England in 1944; his parents; his brothers Clyde, Frank, and George; his sisters Caroline and Alice. Surviving are his four children: Sylvia S. Campbell, a graduate of Penn State University and retired school administrator of San Jose, CA; Alicia Campbell Paris, an instructor of Cosmetology of Manhattan, KS; Thomas D. Campbell Jr., a graduate of the University of Kansas and registered nurse in Portland, OR; Michael E. Campbell a licensed cosmetologist and manager of a salon in Overland Park, KS. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, his sister in law Muriel Thomas of South Wales, and numerous nieces and nephews.
At his request, his cremated remains will be scattered along with those of his wife. Memorial will be private. In lieu of flowers he requests that donations be made to Special Olympics in the name of Thatcher M. Campbell in memory of Grandpa Tom.
Penwell-Gabel Johnson Funeral Chapel, Junction City, KS has assisted the family with cremation services.
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