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"Terrible Tom"
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"Terrible Tom"


Sep 10, 2021, 5:55 PM

I'm going to cut to the chase nd tell you it is late October or early November 1950 and I've just arrived at Yongdongpo`, an repo depot located near Seoul, South Korea. The temperature is already well below freezing as measured by a well digger's attitude. Arriving at the same time were two other GIs and we learned we were joining the 205th Signal Repair Company in Pyongyang, North Korea. Another thing in common, we were the first inactive reservists to arrive in Korea, we three had engineering degrees, were WW2 veterans and were sgts.

We joined joined Team "C" in Pyongyang where the temperature was even lower that it was at Yongdongpo~. The 205th was composed of five teams of about 30 - 35 men with each team assigned to a division or other Army unit. Team "C" was shorthanded as we had less than 25 men. After being housed in a huge warehouse that could have served as a cold storage facility one of of the other teams arrived from a forward position. They were housed in a huge unfinished apartment building in a civilian neighborhood so we moved in with them. On that team was a M/Sgt. known as "Terrible Tom" and it didn't take long to see how he got his moniker.

Terrible Tom was totally devoid of the usual leadership skills one would expect from a M/Sgt. He was lightening quick with a chewing out of a GI over some insignificant thing and incapable of handing out a well deserved "thank you" or "good job". Terrible Tom had instructed several men to set up machine guns around our compound. The three of us newly arrived reservists questioned their location and decided we should inform Terrible Tom of our decision. We used the old "who got the short straw" method to determine who would confront Terrible Tom with our opinion. Old Joe21 was the unlucky winner and I had muster up a lot of courage to confront that old goat. Yes, even I got a chewing out and my titles were read clear, And then they remained that way for about one month. The day after my visit wit TT, he had some men make the changes we had suggested for the machine gun locations.

When the Chinese came knocking at our door, we left Pyongyang and headed South, eventually arriving a little South of Pusan on Dec. 9, 1950. We were on the site of a school grounds with very little flat space for our tens and equipment. About two days later Terrible Tom sent word for me to report to his tent. I was wondering "what have I done now?". To my surprise, he was cordial and finally told me what he wanted. Two more of our teams were joining us and we needed to move the 24-man tens already in place and provide space for more tents and parking space for vehicles and equipment. "You're an engineer and I want you to be in charge of moving the tents', 'can you do that? I told him I would check it out and get back with him.

After reviewing the situation my recommendation was to have the men remove all of their personal items from the tent and remove the huge tarp. We had enough men to pick up the framework and move it to the new site. The only question I had was if the tent flooring was rigid or if it would sag when we picked up the frame work. The men gathered around the frame and on signal, up came the solid flooring. The floor did not sag and everything went off like clockwork. However, there was one problem. Terrible Tom was chewing out men right and left during the entire time. I wanted to tell him to go sit in his tent but thought better of the situation.

After all of the changes were completed, TT once again invited me to his tent. As soon as I arrived, I was handed a cold beer. He thanked me for the job and told me he had informed our Commanding Officer I was the one in charge of moving the tents.

I was still concerned about how he treated the men in the company and finally decided to confront him on the subject. I went o his tent and asked if I could talk with him. I told him he probably didn't want to hear what I was going to say but I wanted him to hear me out. In essence I told him he was not a leader by respect, just a leader because of the authority granted by his grade. The men have no respect for you. In fact they hate you and would not go to bat for you. I said a whole lot more and not once did he utter one word. We sat there in silence for a few minutes and then I got up and left.

A couple of days later I received word to go to Terrible Tom's tent. I knew I was going to get a first class chewing out. But NO, just the opposite. A cold beer and a "THANK YOU". "No one has ever talked to me like you did. I did some soul-searching and realized what you have told me is true. I knew you were right re the machine gun placements in Pyongyang"' And a lot more was said.

On Jan. 1 or 2, 1951, the three of us WW2 vets left for temporary assignment with a Combat Engineering Company near the 38th. Parallel. Before our truck pulled away, Terrible Tom came over and said, "I don't know where you will be in the future but I'm going to find you and bring you a cold beer".

In the meantime I spent about 10 -12 weeks with the Combat Engineers and then joined part of the 205th who had ben sent to Camp Nara, Japan. Terrible Tom was still in Korea. We returned to Korea on April 22, 1951, And bean our way back north. There were only about 6 - 8 men at our first stop where we remained about one month. One day a Jeep came driving up and there was M/Sgt Terrible Tom with a beer in each hand. He hollered out, "Is Sgt. Joe here?". The guys couldn't believe the change in old TT.

We made our second stop headed North and we were about doubled in manpower, now about 12 - 16 men. One day a Jeep drives up and there is Warrant Officer Terrible Tom with a beer in each hand. We had a nice visit, an entirely different person than the one I had met just a few months earlier. That was the last time I saw Terrible Tom.

I received word several years ago from a former member of the company that TT had retired from the Army and had a fatal heart attack soon after retiring, probably during the 1970's

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Re: "Terrible Tom"


Sep 10, 2021, 6:03 PM

Mr Joe, I have a wartime question. I watched an old WWII sub movie last night on the YOU Tube, "Run Silent, Run Deep". It had repeated "broadcasts" from "Tokyo Rose". My question is, were you in areas during that war where you were bombarded by any of the various "Tokyo Roses"? You were the first name I thought of when the movie went there.

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Re: "Terrible Tom"


Sep 10, 2021, 6:24 PM

No. I was in the European Theater. But we often had stories about Tokyo Rose.

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sounds like Tom was not so terrible after all. Good work


Sep 10, 2021, 6:54 PM

Joe21, on the stories and on Tom

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Re: "Terrible Tom"


Sep 10, 2021, 7:00 PM

Joe that is an awesome story. Is there any way you can ever include pictures with your stories? These are priceless pieces of history and an exceptional reminder of why I will always stand for the flag. Thank God for men like you!

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Re: "Terrible Tom"


Sep 10, 2021, 7:51 PM

Love your stories about the greatest generation. I’m waiting on the book to come out of all your journeys both in WWII and Korea. My wife’s uncle was a Navy Corpsman assigned with the Marines in the Pacific during WWII. He was also stationed in Korea and there’s a movie out about him and a friend taking care of a half Korean and half American baby during the conflict. It’s called 1000 men and a baby. Thank you for your service.

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Re: "Terrible Tom"


Sep 10, 2021, 8:13 PM

Whoever TD'd this post should be ashamed! Geez.

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"When I was 6 my Mother let me have a kitten. It died. Don't send prayers, a TU is better." - tugalooriver circa 2022


Let's hope that TD was an accident!!***


Sep 10, 2021, 10:52 PM



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Re: "Terrible Tom"


Sep 10, 2021, 10:03 PM

Tremendous story! Thanks. :)

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Always good to hear from you


Sep 11, 2021, 8:23 AM

glad I didn't miss this - almost did since I am a day late and about to leave for the game.

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Re: "Terrible Tom"


Sep 11, 2021, 9:20 AM

Joe, thank you for continuing with stories of your history and ours.

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"It is not part of a true culture to tame tigers any more than it is to make sheep ferocious."
--Henry David Thoreau


How do you remember dates and details so well?


Sep 11, 2021, 9:37 AM

Do you have things documented in a journal? I have trouble remembering what I had for lunch last week. lol

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Re: How do you remember dates and details so well?


Sep 11, 2021, 3:15 PM

Regretfully, I did not maintain a diary during either war. Where I have a specific date, this info was on a diary maintained by a former Korean War company mate who now resides in Scotland, is also a WW2 veteran and is 101 years old.

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