HomeMy WebLinkAboutTom Powell '65Tom Powell `6~
I joined the Navy in January 1965, went off to Boot Camp and Hospital Corpsman "A" School in San
Diego, California.
I went to Viet Nam in 1967, found myself wounded several times (6} and rotated out in 1968.
I went to Norfolk, Virginia, re-enlisted in 1969 and went to Aerospace Physiology Technician school. I
got accepted to the Associate Degree Completion Program and upon graduation was assigned to as the
Corpsman advisor to the Inspector and Instructor of a Marine Corps Reserve Unit in Providence, RI.
was accepted to the Physician Assistant program and transferred to Sheppard, AFB in Wichita Fall, TX
and then back to Jacksonville, FL.
I then had the honor of being the first Physician Assistant assigned to sea duty when I went aboard the
USS Forestal CV 59. I made a Med Cruise and then went back to Guam as the Senior Physician
Assistant. I rotated to Naval Air Station, Kingsville, TX and then was offered the position as Physician
Assistant for the Pre-Commissioning Unit for the USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72. I commissioned the
Abe Lincoln, took it around the Horn and then to the Persian Gulf for Desert Storm! Desert Shield. I was
then assigned to Camp LeJeune, NG and the Assistant to the Senior Medical Officer for Branch Clinics
and retired from there.
My award include: Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart {six awardsj, Navy Achievement {two
awardsj, Combat Action, Presidenial Unit Citation, Joint Service Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation,
Meritorious Unit Citation, Navy Good Conduct {two awards}, National Defense {2 awardsj, Overseas
Deployment {2 awardsj, Sea Service Deployment {2 awardsj, Desert Storm/Desert Sheild Service, Viet
Nam Service with FMF Combat Device and 4 campaign stars, Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry and the Viet
Nam Civil Action. I have been awarded Air Crewmember wings and the Medical Department Surface
Warfare Officer device.
I am proud that I had the opportunity to serve with some OUTSTANDING people and I am proud of the
those who serve today. Thanks for your service and for keeping the records of our fellow Tigers who
have served, still serve or sacrificed their life for our way of life. Thomas Powell LGDRlUSN (Ret}