Surprise Card Signing... Congratulations, Tommy! Well Deserved!

8/1/2012

Via:
Joe Cahill
I am re-posting Ed Keenan's post as I am unable to share it. It stands as a reminder that some of the people in our lives have done amazing things, even if we don't know it.

Thank you Tommy I'm glad you got the recognition... you deserve and I'm proud to know you.

Finally, 46 years later, a wrong was made right by the United States Army. Paramedic Tommy Giorgi, FDNY-EMS (Ret), Vietnam Veteran, and one of the best Paramedics this job ever had, is being awarded the Silver Star, for gallantry in action, while in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, in a squad sized element against over 200+ Vietnamese combatants. He was one of 5 men to survive the assault. Tommy was shot, and burned over 35% of his body after taking rocket propelled grenade fire. Tommy, I cannot thank you enough for the sacrifice you made for this country, but most important, for those you fought with. In the end, thats all it comes down to. Those you served with. Tommy, I raise my glass to you, those you made it out with, and to those you served with who never made it home. Salute.

14 Comments

Sherry Wood link

8/1/2012 08:28:27 am

Thank you, Tommy. I am so happy for you and your family. The honor with which you served - I am beyond words. -Sherry Wood

Dan Heidt link

8/1/2012 08:57:50 am

I've said it before and I'll say it again....I learned from the best!!! So proud of my 1st partner and the privilege of being able to say that :)
Congratulations Tom A long over due Oversight has been brought to light Thank you for your service and being a great Teacher/Partner
Dan-0 3908 Harlem Family

Tanya Hartman

8/1/2012 09:06:23 am

Tom,
Congratulations on a job well done. This is a great honor to be part of your team and helping you achieve your goal. This was begun before I was even born. Thank you for putting your life on the line for my freedom. As well as your community even after Vietnam.

Lisa Ann Walker

8/1/2012 09:23:42 am

Tom
I have known you for 20 + years and I never knew these details until just recently, however, no matter where we went in Harlem, I NEVER felt unsafe, I instinctively knew YOU would have my back. You never babied me, you gave me the opportunity to prove I could do the job. Now I know why! I believe you knew what you had done and knew that people could lift themselves to the situation. I NEVER faced anything close to what you experienced and the heroism you showed, simply because it was "the rIght thing", but you taught me the principle.
I am honored to have had the wonderful blessing of your tutelage as I became a true "Harlem Medic".
I thank you for your service and pain and sacrifices so that I was able to work with you in what had been "a man's job".
Congratulations on the Federal Government FINALLY recognizing what you did and how courageous you have always been. Congratulations on finally being awarded The Silver Star !!!

I am even more humbled now to call you friend.

Kevin Connelly

8/1/2012 09:50:49 am

Tom,
I honestly don't recall if we met while at EMS together, although we probably did. Anyway, I am so proud of you and can't express my thanks for your efforts on behalf of our country and our citizens. Thank you for being there!!

Michael O'Loughlin

8/1/2012 09:53:15 am

You had it all the way; blouse your boots and report to Congress! Congratulations to you, Barbara, Scott, Todd, and their ladies. Thank YOU for your service.

Michael O'Loughlin

8/1/2012 11:39:35 am

HEY, HEY EVERYBODY!! Thomas J. Giorgi of Ryebrook (FB) has won our nation's third highest award for gallantry, the U.S. Army SILVER STAR. This was 46 years coming after he was wounded twice (2 Purple Hearts) and evacuated post-haste by medevac to a MASH, and then to subsequent definitive care hospitals in the South East Asia theater and returned to USA hospitals until full recuperation and Honorable Discharge. In the rush to get him the very best medical treatment, these purple hearts were awarded in hospital but the record remained open. His actions accompanying how and why he was wounded twice resulted in after action testimonies of fellow soldiers shedding light upon Tommy's bravery under fire in combat in 1966 during the Ia Drang Valley campaign and its western border, both near Cambodia and the Central Highland Plain and Pleiku, in the Republic of South Vietnam. Tommy worked a career with us at FDNY*EMS and many were privileged to be his partners from the eighties onward. Now we know in whose shadow we stood. Thank You, Tommy, for your leadership by example and for your friendship. On behalf of all the Harlem Paramedics and everyone else at the Division of Training and the Department's city streets, congratulations and welcome home! Undoubtedly, we look forward to the presentation from Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D.- N.Y.), during her calendar week of August 6-10 and the media coverage. This time, it hits home. Well done, T.J!

Samuel Morris link

8/1/2012 12:18:47 pm

If I had never spoken with you and only had the words of others to rely on that would be enough. You are a great man that deserves respect and it's nice to see people recognize that. All the best and may we speak again soon.

Shawn Bittar

8/2/2012 01:57:17 am

Your Achievements are great ! Thank You Tommy and Congrats ! We proud of you Brotha !

Tom Giorgi link

8/3/2012 12:42:57 am

I think it's safe to assume that the wonderful collage at the top of the page was put together by Sherry Wood. What a great job Sherry! I have to say to all that have posted their accolades to me that I am simply overwhelmed by everyone's response to me being awarded the Silver Star. I thought for years that any formal recognition would never happen because an award of this magnitude has to be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt! Because witness reports are the first part of the puzzle I thought I was out of luck because most of my witnesses were either dead or shipped to hospitals unknown to me at the time and than to their homes. I had only one contact that consisted of a few letters but he was a country boy from Arkansas and he moved without leaving a forwarding address! So we were separated for 39 years!! Unlike today where you can go on line and just about find anyone, back than something like this left me at a dead end. For years I wondered what happened to "Smitty" my machine gunner and Sgt. Cliff Totten who put me in for this award.
Than in 2005 thanks to a former Squad Leader, Sgt. Alonzo Jones, everything changed. He was given a computer for Christmas by his son and he decided to try to locate those he served with. Alonzo had done a full tour (12 months) along with a friend of mine who was from Long Island, John Piaza. He died on July 3rd, 2006 of lung cancer, (Imagine that, he died on the 40th anniversary of my battle) They had exchanged addresses and phone numbers before returning to "The World" so they could keep in touch. Both John and Alonzo missed that day because they were both hospitalized with FUO's, fever of unknown origin. When Alonzo started his quest he asked John and he remembered that I was from a town in Westchester. So Alonzo wrote to everyone in New York with the last name Giorgi. That's a big job because I have a huge family! I still have that letter and remember the day it came in the mail. I was shaking when I was reading it because it said that our Battalion (1st/35th Infantry Regiment/ "The Cacti") was holding it's annual reunion in Louisville the last weekend in July. They had been meeting since 1999 in a different city throughout the country. At this reunion "Smitty" and I were reunited after 39 years!! In 2008 at the St, Louis reunion they located Sgt. Totten and after 44 years we too were together again.
At each reunion July 3rd comes up in conversation obviously. I'm told of things I did that day that I can't recall. The human mind is a complicated organ! I guess when you're struggling to forget things and put it behind you, sometimes the mind works as you would want it to. But than you try to remember things that went on so the details can be revealed and talked about. Although it was easy at the time, because I came from the medical profession, killing people bothered me more than I realized. Helping people was my calling. It's why God put me here and combat and killing was going against the grain! But you do what you have to do to survive.
At these reunions it was discovered that I was not formally recognized for my actions that day and Sgt. Tottten wasn't having any of that so he wrote the first letter. There is a very lenghtly and complicated protocol that must be followed when requesting an award after so many years have passed. The Silver Star is not an "Attaboy" award. It's not a pat on the back and they don't give it out easily. You have to earn it. If you don't have all your ducks in a row it will be denied! Which is fine by me because awards like this should not be cheapened by simply handing them out! We assembled all that was needed and everything must be submitted with Congressional support and approval.
So after thinking for so many years that I would never get the recognition that I felt I deserved, Congresswoman Nita Lowey and her staff got me this long awaited commendation! But as happy as I am to recieve it, this is a bitter sweet occassion! We must never lose sight of the fact that individual that I was trying to help that got me the award, died! He along with 19 other young men lost their lives that day. I knew 15 by their first names and 13 were from my patrol! So it is with tremendous honor I will wear the Silver Star proudly in their memory!!
Again, I must thank each and every one of you for all the kind words, love, and support that you have posted on Face Book, via e-mail, and on Hub/911. Your comments have made this award more wonderful than words can express. I love each and every one of you. Tommy "G"

Nancy Newsome link

8/4/2012 01:35:33 am

I am so honored to be able to thank A Silver Star recipient! You went where others feared to go, saw what others feared to see, and did it all so other Americans did not have to...for this I say thank you from the bottom of my heart! Congratulations for this much deserved award..and wear it proudly!

TJ Blue

8/4/2012 07:29:36 am

Tommy

Welcome to a very exclusive segment of the population of our great country. I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition; albeit 45 years delayed. Your actions on July 3, 1966 were truly what is meant by the words "Gallantry in Action", words that you will soon find along with your name on a citation and on the back of a beautiful golden star. Stand proud knowing the sacrifices you made that led to this occasion.

Looking forward to our meeting next month in Denver where I can congratulate you in person. Until then take care and 'Take Arms'.

TJ

Tom Giorgi link

8/5/2012 07:31:08 am

I encourage everyone to check out my Battalion's website (The Cacti) at www.cacti35th.org. You will find this web site very informative as to the history of this regiment that was founded in Nogales, AZ during the Spanish American War. Hence the nickname. The Cacti. When it opens click on 35th Infantry Regiment at the top of the page. When the site opens go to History and than History Index. There you'll find all the citations of all the Medal Of Honor (MOH) and Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) recepients. Look for Sgt. Clifford Totten my Forward Observer (FO) the day of our battle and Lt. Jasper Sturdivandt. my Platoon Leader who was KIA that day. Also when you click on History go to Vietnam which opens in 1966. Scroll down to 3 July and you'll find my entry on the battle. Hope you enjoy perusing the site and look at all the Lineage and Honors bestowed on this storied regiment! Check the KIA section and find Bravo Company in 1st/35th. Go to July 3rd and you'll see the faces of the 20 men KIA that awful day. Thank You all again. Tom Giorgi #2456 13X

Joanna link

8/8/2012 12:16:16 pm

Tommy, i dont knoqvyou personsally but feel we share a mutual bond. That is we both car e fir iur country and fello man. I want to personally thank you gor alliwing me go continue to live my american values. You are ao deserving of this medal. God bless !

Surprise Card Signing... Congratulations, Tommy! Well Deserved!

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