Linda Sánchez Names Cerritos Man “Veteran of the Month” (Nov 9 2011)
Cerritos, CA –Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-39) continued her veterans' outreach program onTuesday and named Vietnam War veteran and Cerritos resident Tom Tislow as the39th Congressional District's "Veteran of the Month" for November2011.
Tom Tislow joined the U.S. Marine Corps in January1966. After basic training, Mr. Tislowreceived jungle warfare training in the Panama Canal area and was deployed toVietnam in April 1967. Tislow servedwith the 3rd Marine Division which conducted operations fromhelicopters aboard the USS Tripoli. He and his fellow Marines were flownin for more than twenty operations throughout northern South Vietnam and theDemilitarized Zone, providing reinforcements to armed forces units for severalweeks at a time. Tislow returned from Vietnam in May 1968 and was honorably discharged inJanuary 1969 with the rank of Sergeant.
For his service and bravery, Mr.Tislow was awarded the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, MeritoriousUnit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with Four Stars,Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnam Police Action Medal, two Vietnam Crosses ofGallantry, National Defense Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.
"Mr. Tislow's military service is inspiring, as hismedals and commendations illustrate, and it is an honor to recognize hisservice to our country," said Congresswoman Sánchez. "We owe Mr.Tislow a huge debt of gratitude for the sacrifice and bravery he showed duringthe Vietnam War. It is my hope thatsomeday we can give Vietnam veterans, like Mr. Tislow, the proper homecomingthey deserved, but never received, by establishing an annual ‘National WelcomeHome Vietnam Veterans Day.'"
Mr. Tislow is an active member of Veterans of Foreign Wars,Post 1846 and the Friends of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion,which supports the U.S. Marine Corps battalion at Camp Pendleton. He has also competed in marathons to raise money forvarious charities and organizations, including the Special Olympics, Semper FiFund, and the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion Memorial Fund.
To see a picture of Mr. Tislow receiving his "Veteran of theMonth" award, click here.
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