42nd Veteran of the Quarter, Thomas, Center, US Navy/US Army
March 1, 2021
Brown Water Sailor / Military Intelligence Instructor
I have relied on several narratives written about Tom to compose my thoughts about him. My husband graduated from High School in 1966 at the age of 17. Because he had to be at least 18 years old to join the military, his mother had to reluctantly approve his enlistment. After being in the Navy for a short time, as a young sailor, he volunteered for combat duty in Vietnam. His request for boat duty was accepted and his first combat tour was in 1967 and 1968 with the joint Navy/ Army Mobile Riverine Force in the Delta of Vietnam.
After returning to the United Stated for six months, he asked for, and was approved for, another Vietnam combat tour. The second tour, in 1969 and 1970, was spent traversing the northern most rivers in South Vietnam looking for mines, repositioning troops, and transporting logistic items. For his combat tours with the United States Navy, Tom was awarded the following decorations: Purple Heart, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Achievement Award with Valor Device, Navy Meritorious Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation, Unit Cross of Gallantry, Vietnamese Civic Action Citation, and Vietnam Campaign Medal (plus some more during his time in the Army.)
After a 13-year break in service, my husband decided to rejoin the military. This time he went into the Army. Boot Camp was repeated in 1983 when the army required it after enlisting at the age of 34. Six years later, just before he was medically retired, his evaluation read, “SSG Center is one of the most dedicated, professional noncommissioned officers that I have had the pleasure of serving with. He was responsible for the revision development and implementation of a Low intensity Conflict module of instruction. SSG Center was able to instruct his students from his personal experience as well as school doctrine. SSG Center has devoted countless hours in researching and preparing his modules of instruction. He was solely responsible for the development of reserve component instructional material on Low Intensity Conflict that received high praise from the school’s Low Intensity Task Group. His untiring efforts and devotion to duty make him an invaluable asset to any assignment.” During one class, he was visited by representatives from the CIA. They had a discussion with him regarding the counterterrorism and insurgencies lesson plans. They took copies of his materials to develop their training about terrorists. It was later discovered that they were used to help teach about terrorist cells such as the groups involved in 9/11.
He has been active in several Veteran organizations including the Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart (as Chapter Commander for two years.) Tom believes that the military changed his life for the positive, despite the challenges he faced. Tom is an inspiration to many such as a former high school student what was part of the Special Forces in the Panama Invasion. The student called late in the night to thank Tom for the life lessons he had demonstrated several years before.
Tom now has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education. He has had various educational and work-related experiences, including graduation from the Los Angeles Police Academy, eight years as a Patrolman and School Resource Officer in Orange, California, teaching high school, being a Military Intelligence Instructor with the United States Army, college course instructor for a prison program, Arizona Child Protection Services Investigator, working with the Occupational Safety & Health Agency and the Mining Safety & Health Agency as a Safety Instructor, and a whole lot more that I do not recall. He has been an active member of the churches we have attended by teaching Sunday school and being a Life Group leader. We have been married for over 37 years and he says he is blesses to have had a varied and interesting life.
Tom’s Vietnam experiences inspired him to write a book called “The CrossRoad Diaries.” It refers to not only a particularly hazardous physical location on the rivers, but also to a personal reflection on his decisions and eternity. I know the book has already helped some veterans dealing with PTSD and the people who deal with those vets, so I have included a flyer-type sheet about it.
Tom is frequently approached by service members suffering from PTSD regarding assistance dealing with the unique issues that affect them in everyday life.
THE PROUD. THE STRONG. THE LOYAL. OUR VETERANS!