Tom was born April 24, 1942, and raised on a family farm near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His mother and father were devoted Catholics who raised their 4 children to love God and His church. He worked hard as a young boy and learned about farm life while doing his chores of taking care of animals and bailing hay. All the while, as he worked on the family farm, Tom had a secret love of flying.
After graduating from college, marrying his high school and college girlfriend – Mary Ellen – he found himself trying out several jobs, but none were satisfying to him. One day, after spending an entire day with a Navy recruiter, Tom found himself embarking on fulfilling his dream of flying. He left for Pensacola, Florida on 4/1/1965 to become a Navy pilot. After flight training, Tom eventually checked out in an A7 single seat, single engine, attack fighter aircraft. His squadron, VA 86, was deployed on a combat tour to the Tonkin Gulf region aboard the USS America from April to December 1968.
Tom often thought about how much he missed his new wife and family while he was deployed, mostly during Masses aboard the America. He often wrote to Mary Ellen about how much he missed her and by now, their two very young sons. Living on an aircraft carrier meant sharing very cramped quarters, but Tom grew up in a very small house. He and his brothers slept in a living room and had to put everything away before they left for school every morning.
Tom left active duty with the Navy but remained in the Navy Reserves. He was hired by United Airlines shortly afterwards. After being furloughed by United, Tom returned to active duty as an A7 instructor pilot. He did this until he was hired by Eastern Airlines and then went back into the Navy Reserves again. His flying career took Tom and his family to many different locations all over the nation while flying several different commercial and military aircraft and accumulating tens-of-thousands of flight hours. His boyhood dream came true.