On 24 September 1950, First Lieutenant Thomas A. Lombardo joined the hallowed ranks of graduates who have fallen in distant lands facing the enemy. Tom was company commander of I Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, Second Infantry Division at the time of his last action on a hilltop near Ch’ogye, Korea. Tom’s journey to Ch’ogye began in St. Louis, Missouri on 17 April 1923, when he was born into the large and loving family of Anna and Angelo Lombardo. Tom’s athletic abilities surfaced in his early years with participation in football, basketball, baseball, and track. In 1940 Tom was captain and ace back of the Soldan High School Football team and was chosen “Most Valuable’’ football player in the St. Louis Metropolitan District. After graduation, Tom entered St. Louis University in the fall of 1941.
However, Tom’s outstanding athletic accomplishments had not escaped the attention of a distinguished graduate of St. Louis University and the Military Academy. Colonel (later Major General) Harvey J. Jablonsky- “Jabo,” as he was affectionately known—played an Important role in Tom’s decision to enter West Point. “Jabo’s” descriptions of cadet and Army life, plus the encouragement of his older brother Gus, proved the telling influences that brought Tom to West Point in July 1942.
Tom quickly won the respect and admiration of his classmates. Though two major sports occupied much of his cadet time, he never ignored his academic requirements. Tom lettered in each of his cadet years in both baseball and football, becoming captain of the 1944 Army Football Team that amassed a record which will probably never be equaled or bettered at USMA. Tom’s Leadership as captain of this great team was widely recognized throughout the sports world. The final tally of 504 points to their opponents’ 35 points brought Army “Team of the Year” honors and the Lambert Trophy as Champions of the Eastern Conference.
Colonel Arch Arnold, Jr., a classmate and teammate, recalls: “Tom was easily the choice to be our team captain. Serious, sincere, concerned, unselfish, mature-one who oozed confidence. A natural, good-hearted guy with lots of athletic ability but without due flair for headlines. He was so popular because he supported his teammates rather than competing with them for attention. He was a good man.” Lieutenant Colonel V. Arnold Tucker, USAF (Ret) Class of 1947, followed Tom as quarterback of the Army football team. Tucker remembers that “Tom led by example and performance. He was rock solid on the field and off. His advice and instruction were forthcoming in a mature and professional manner. He did it naturally without pretense or fanfare.” To Tom accrues much of the credit for inspiring and developing the greatest football team in West Point history.
With Infantry as his branch of choice, Tom graduated on 5 June 1945, married his lovely “One-and-only,” his childhood sweetheart from St. Louis, Agnes McFarland. After a thirty-day graduation leave, he served a brief tour at Fort Benning, followed by duty with the Army of Occupation in Japan. In June 1946 Tom was selected by Coach Earl Blaik to return to West Point as an assistant to the football coaches. Agnes and his two-month-old son Tom shared this pleasant duty with Tom. In January 1947 Tom returned to Japan and the family followed shortly thereafter. Coach Blaik once again selected Tom to assist at West Point in the fall of 1947. Then it was back to Japan, where he coached the First Cavalry Football Team that fall. In April 1949 Tom joined the 38thh Infantry Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington, serving as a heavy weapons company officer until being detailed to coach the Second Infantry Division football Team. The team won the Sixth Army championship under Tom’s leadership.
On 23 February 1950, Agnes presented Tom with a daughter, Joanne. On 25 June 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea; the Second Infantry Division with the 38th Infantry Regiment was soon deployed to augment the hard-pressed US forces rushed into Korea from Japan. Tom had been transferred to the G-3 section of the Second Division, but his repeated requests to join a line unit were realized after breakout from the Pusan Perimeter when Tom assumed command of I Company, 38th Infantry. The regiment had suffered heavy casualties along the Naktong River. After a successful crossing on the night of I8 and 19 September, Tom assumed command and quickly made his presence felt.
“His reputation preceded him. We knew he was a great athlete but also that he had come from headquarters—no line experience. We were skeptical, but we took an instant and strong liking to him. He got us better food, blankets, and ponchos. He really impressed us tremendously. He seemed more genuinely concerned for our welfare. He was in our foxholes with us face-to-face checking on us to see how we were. He brought about a loyalty in two or three days that had not been there before.”
The invasion at Inchon had relieved the pressure on the Pusan Perimeter and the North Korean forces were quickly put to flight. Tom’s regiment was in pursuit, and Tom’s company was left behind to search out and destroy bypassed enemy strong points. On the afternoon of 24 September, while crossing a wide valley floor near Ch’ogye, the company came under intense enemy fire from the hill above. Pinned down, Tom called for volunteers to follow him in an assault on the enemy positions. Tom led the charge and, although casualties were heavy, put the enemy to rout. Tom fell mortally wounded just as the enemy abandoned their positions.
In January 1956, Agnes “Babe” MacFarland became Mrs. Paul Kelly; she survives. Also surviving are son Thomas A. Lombardo and daughter Joanne Showman, brothers August, Angelo, and Carmen and sister Antoinette (Lee) Schlichting.
On 17 November 1962, the US Army Seoul Area Command designated the football field at Yongsan Reservation, Seoul, Korea as Lombardo Field. On 20 November 1962, the commanding officer, Seoul Area Command, read two messages; one from General of the Army Douglas MacArthur and the other from West Point football coach Colonel Earl Blaik.
General MacArthur said: “It is highly appropriate that this gridiron, carved out of ground hallowed by American bloodshed that men might be free, be dedicated to honor the memory of Lieutenant Thomas A. Lombardo. For he brought to the battlefield the fighting spirit and leadership acquired on the football field. He captained West Point’s 1944 eleven and later gave his life in the consolidation of our victory at Inchon. He knew no compromise with duty nor sought any but to his final breath gave implacable devotion to the immortal legend by which he was trained to serve—‘Duty, Honor, Country.’ Let those who struggle here for supremacy in sport remain ever conscious that hereto are sown the seeds that upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.” Coach Blaik’s message was that “it is a source of inspiration to all who were associated with Tom to learn that a football field is being dedicated to the memory of this soldier athlete. On behalf of his teammates and the coaching staff may I express our sincere gratitude for the honor you have bestowed on our former colleague. From her sons, West Point expects the best—Tom Lombardo always gave his best.” Though his journey to Ch’ogye ended so many years ago, this superb athlete, husband, father, soldier, and friend is still loved, revered, and respected by those privileged to have shared part of his life with him. West Point has had no finer son.
Lilley ‘45