THOMAS GRANT - PSGT
- HOMETOWN:
- plainfield
- COUNTY:
- Union
- DATE OF BIRTH:
- September 21, 1930
- DATE OF CASUALTY:
- December 08, 1967
- BRANCH OF SERVICE:
- Army
- RANK:
- PSGT
- STATUS:
- KIA
- COUNTRY:
- South Vietnam
Biography
Thomas Grant was born on September 21, 1930, in Orangeburg, SC, where he attended Wilkinson High School. His home of record is Plainfield, NJ.
He entered the US Army when he was just seventeen years old. He completed his basic training at Fort Dix and later served at Fort Lewis, WA.
Grant served in the US Army during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and attained the rank of Sergeant (SGT). He served 32 months in a prisoner of war camp in Korea. When he returned to the United States, he re-enlisted and was promoted to Platoon Sergeant (PSGT).
Prior to leaving for Vietnam, he trained troops for combat at Fort Dix for 3 years. He died as a result of combat wounds on December 8, 1967, at the age of 37, in South Vietnam, while serving with the 1st Cavalry Division. He would have completed 20 years in the service at the end of December.
"The whole time he was fighting I felt there was a hammer over my head ready to strike at any moment," said Mrs. Junell Grant in the Newark Star Ledger, March 10, 1965.
Mrs. Grant learned of her husband's death on her daughter's 10th birthday.
Grant received the Purple Heart. He left behind a wife, Junell, and three children, Cynthia, Kim and Steven, along with his parents, a brother and two sisters.
Sources: Junell Grant Williamson (widow) and NJVVMF.
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