Thomas Puckett '63
Date of birth: July 16, 1940
Date of death: November 19, 1963
Age: 23
Lucky Bag
From the 1963 Lucky Bag:
THOMAS GENE PUCKETT
Holdenville, Oklahoma
Tom came to us after a year at Stephen F. Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where he excelled in football and student activities. Tom, like most of his classmates, found plebe summer to be quite different from past experiences. However, it didn't take him long to become acquainted with "the system" and to realize its importance. When the Brigade returned, his quick thinking and ready wit were quickly brought to the attention of the upperclass, and he was always in demand any time there was a company party. A good all-round competitor, Tom played on many championship company teams. What a team lacked in ability, Tom made up for in spirit, with a word of encouragement for everyone. Tom's well rounded personality has made many friends for him throughout the Brigade, as well as with members of the opposite sex. These, together with his personal character and sincerity, are great assets and should enable success to follow him in whatever branch of the service he chooses.
He was also a member of the 2nd Battalion staff (fall) and was a company commander in the spring.
Obituary
via USNA Class of 1963:
Navy Plane Pilot Killed at Airport
Another Navy training plane [a T-28] crashed near here this week. Ensign Thomas Puckett. 23. of Tulsa, Okla., was killed when his Whiting Field based Navy trainer crashed at the Brewton Airport Tuesday afternoon.
Dr. George Perry, Escambia County coroner, said that the plane had just made a turn before landing when it struck the top of a pine tree and crashed several hundred feet from the runway. Ensign Puckett was on a solo flight at the time of the accident. He was practicing landing at the Brewton Airport which is used by the student pilots from Whiting.
The pilot was a resident of Rt.3, Pensacola. near Milton, and is survived by his wife.
Brewton Standard Nov. 21, 1963
From the March 1964 issue of Shipmate:
Tom will long be remembered for his quick smile and his deep sincerity toward everyone who came in contact with him.
Class of 1963
Thomas is one of 29 members of the Class of 1963 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
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