Thomas Holcomb - U.S. Army 1970-74

Thomas "Tom" Holcomb served in Vietnam from 1971-72 as a Dustoff Pilot. Tom served with the 571st Medical Detachment and flew a medical evacuation helicopter helping injured soldiers get medical attention at Phu Bai and Da Nang surgical hospitals during the Vietnam War. The primary helicopter that Tom flew was the UH-1 equipped with a jungle penetrating hoist. While in Vietnam Tom met his wife, Army nurse Sheila Marie Holcomb. Sheila passed away in 2021. Immediately after his tour in Vietnam Tom continued to serve his country stateside as an air ambulance pilot for the Army's MAST program (Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic). The MAST program was designed to transport injured civilians and or service members from an accident scene to the hospital.