Tom Goszewski
1950-09-22 1970-11-27THOMAS W. GOSZEWSKI DIES
WOUNDED IN VIETNAM ACTION
Marine Corps Cpl. Thomas W. Goszewski, son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Goszewski, 10259 Pannell Dr., Moline Acres, has been killed in South Vietman. Cpl Goszewski was critically wounded Thanksgiving Day and died Friday, Nov. 27, 1970, the Defense Department announced Tuesday.
A 20-year-old graduate of Riverview Gardens Senior High School, Cpl. Goszewski enlisted in the Marines in July, 1969, and had served with the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam since July, 1970.
The soldier's parents received a letter Tuesday that was dated Nov. 23, two days before he was wounded. The letter included references to buddies and concluded: "I guess everyone is thinking about the holidays now. Next year, I'll have to celebrate everthing twice."
Survivors, in addition to his parents, include a brother, John, and two sisters, Susan and Mary Jane. All are students.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
The following newspaper notice/obituary also was published on December 2, 1970, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
MARINE DIES OF WOUNDS
Marine Cpl. Thomas W. Goszewski, son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Goszewski, 10259 Pannell Drive, North St. Louis County, died in Vietnam last Friday of fragmentation wounds suffered two days earlier.
Goszewski's parents were notified that he was on patrol in Quang Nam Province and was attempting to destroy an enemy explosive device when it detonated. He died in a medical facility in Da Nang.
Goszewski, 20 years old, was an infantryman in the First Marine Division, First Regiment. He joined the Marines after graduating from Riverview Gardens Senior High School last year. He had been in Vietman since last July.
In a letter to his parents written two days before he was wounded, Goszewski asked his father, a machine operator laid off as a result of the United Auto Workers strike, how much longer he would be out of work.
"I'll put another $200 in the bank. That brings me up to $850. If you need it, let me know," he wrote. "I guess everyone is thinking about the holidays," he continued. "Next year, I'll have to celebrate everything twice."
Surviving, besides his parents, are a brother, John, and two sisters, Susan and Mary.
Tom, I saw the Moving Wall in Freeburg, IL recently. I saw your name on that wall and remembered the stories I heard about you and your generosity when you sent home your soldier's pay to your family. You were generous for serving your country and for giving us our freedom. At the Wall, I spoke to a Vietnam vet who told me about his return and getting spat upon on far too many occasions. He said that the one thing that the VN vets wanted to hear wasn't a thank you for serving so much as a welcome home. Welcome, Tom, but still I have to thank you for serving.
tribute by AnonymousTom was a wonderful person. I'm proud that he protected our country. Tom will be missed.
tribute by AnonymousOF ALL MY FRIENDS FROM THE CLASS OF 1969 I THINK ABOUT TOM THE MOST AND HOW SHORT HIS LIFE WAS COMPARED TO THE REST OF US. I REMEMBER HIM AS A FRIEND WHO NEVER SAID ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT ANYONE. SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHILE IN DC TO WALK IN THE PROLIFE MARCH, I WENT TO "THE WALL" IN THE DARKNESS OF A JANUARY NIGHT TO FIND HIS NAME. AT THE MOMENT MY SMALL FLASHLIGHT REVEALED HIS NAME, I WAS TOLD HE IS IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN US AND WE’LL SEE HIM AGAIN.
tribute by Bill SchulenburgI remember being in shop class, telling Tom about my 60 Chevy I was having painted. It seems like yesterday and I have such a hard time believing Tom is gone and at such a young age. I was one of the lucky ones that didn't have to tour active combat in my army years.
tribute by Bob NicklesI did not know Tom personally but I thank him for his service to our country. I wish his family God’s blessings. I am also a military person and I truely appreciate his sacrifice. I am sorry for his family’s loss.
tribute by Charlotte Tourville ShowalterTom was a friend. We were both in the jungles of Vietnam. He was not really that far from me, probably 100 miles away but he might as well have been a million miles. I was a Paratrooper and he was a Marine. We were planning on meeting up on our R&R within a few weeks and then I received the news from a letter back home that he had fallen. Tom, thank you for your sacrifice and service to this great country and thank you for being a friend.
tribute by AnonymousTom, Nick Howell and I discussed joining the Marines together. My dad and older brother had both been in the Marines. I went home and announced to my mother that I was joining after graduation with two classmates. My brother had been killed in March of '68 in a collision between a dump truck and his squad car, as a police officer for Creve Coeur, Missouri. Her response was, "Don't do this to me. You're the only son I have left." I couldn't bear the thought of how she'd feel if I didn't come home, but after hearing of Tommy getting killed I always wondered if I might have made a difference. I saw him on leave shortly before he went to Vietnam.
tribute by Mike Howard