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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jan 02
THOMAS SAWYER OWEN
No. 15954 * 21 Nov 1924 - 22 Sep 2000
Died in Jalapa, Mexico * Ashes scattered in the Atlantic Ocean and
in Jalapa, Mexico. |
THOMAS S. OWEN was born in Raymond, WA, a small town in the SW corner
of the state. His childhood was typical for a young man from a small town
in that era. He loved to explore, worked in his family's store and played
high school football. He won an appointment to West Point and joined the
Class of 1946 on the banks of the Hudson on 1 July 1943.
Cadet life was relatively uneventful for Tom. He had no major problems
with either academics or the Tacs. He was well known around the Corps for
his "seal bark' in the mess hall. When graduation rolled around, Tom pinned
on the bars of a second lieutenant in the Infantry.
Following graduation, Tom went to Fort Benning, GA for the Infantry
Basic Course and Jump School. His first assignment was to Japan with the
Airborne Infantry. Tom volunteered for assignment to a unit searching for
the bodies of downed USAF pilots from WWII in the mountains of Japan. While
in Japan, he met and married Felise Wyckoff, a secretary with the Occupation
Forces, in October 1948. Tom was on orders to return to the States when
the Korean War broke out. Tom went into Korea in October 1950 as a platoon
leader, 6th Infantry. He returned to the States in May 1951 where he attended
the Advanced Course at Benning. His next assignment was to the Pentagon
where he started his series of tours in Intelligence.
He first served in G-2, Department of the Army, then went to the U
of PA for a year in 1954 before joining the MAAG in Pakistan in 1955. Classmate,
Earl R Van Deusen wrote about Tom's experience: "One story from a classmate
who was assistant attaché' in Pakistan at the time was that he was
to deliver Tom to a particular Pakistani Army facility located across the
Jelum or Indus river which was at flood stage. The last he saw, Tom was
stripped to the waist, all his belongings on his head, wading across miles
of swollen river. Tom not only studied Urdu but Pustu and was very fond
of his times with the tribes in the Northwest frontier."
From Pakistan, Tom went to Arlington Hall, VA. He discovered that Infantry
Branch was unhappy with all his time in Intelligence so he transferred
to the Intelligence Corps. In 1961, Tom and family went to the Philippines.
From there Tom was assigned to Vietnam and his family was with him. In
October 1964, the family was evacuated back to the States as conditions
worsened in Vietnam. Tom remained until May 1965. Tom was one of the first
officers to give a detailed projection of the force and numbers of regular
North Vietnam Army units located south of the DMZ. Shortly after returning
to the States, Tom decided to retire from the Army in 1966 and try his
hand at civilian life.
The Owens had decided to retire to Mexico. Felise went first to have
their last child. Tom and the rest of the family followed and discovered
Jalapa, the capitol of Veracruz. Population was 85,000 with a university,
theater and a symphony, not far from the ocean but up in a lush green part
of the slope from an ancient volcano. There, Tom bought land, built a home
and raised his 6 children. The family learned Spanish and adapted to the
customs. Tom's love of boats and the ocean led him to take up sailing,
first with friends and later with professional crews. He left his family
in 1981 to tour the world and ended up in Tortola, BVI. There he ran serendipity
tours with Trish Bailey, his companion for 20 years. In 1988, Tom returned
to Jalapa to resume old friendships and settle back in with his children.
Tom was content in his life back in Jalapa. He was active, had many
friends and was in good health. On 22 September 2000, Tom was coming home
from running errands on his motorcycle when he was hit and died from his
injuries. He is survived by his children: Linda, Tom, Jr., Scott, James,
Lori and Lisa and seven grandchildren. Felise and Tom were legally separated
in 1981 and even though she returned to California, maintained a friendly
relationship.
His son, Tom, Jr. reported that Tom had several memorials attended by
dozens of friends and acquaintances who remembered him as a strong- willed
man who tried to be fair and kind and enjoyed life to the fullest. A man
who enjoyed spelunking, rock and mountain climbing, hiking, horseback riding
squash and particularly sailing.
Ed Van Deusen recalled: "Tom was a free spirit who managed to do what
he wanted to and was very successful in all he did."
Daughter, Linda wrote: "My father was an adventurer who balked at the
ordinary and thrived on a good challenge. He loved the simple way of life
and all the natural wonders in the wide world. He shared with everyone
his special brand of humor as well as a can do approach to problems. As
a father, he opened many doors to the real world and gave us all a tour
far away from materialism and mediocrity. At his passing, he was in high
spirits and enjoying his family, many friends and a quiet peaceful life.
He is very missed but never forgotten."
The Class of 1946 is privileged to add these words that would mean so
much to our classmate: "Well Done, Tom; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his family
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