US PARAS 2 Shipe, Thomas Allebach

Descending from the Clouds: From North Africa to VE Day with 505 PIR 82nd Airborne
Descending from the Clouds: From North Africa to VE Day with 505 PIR 82nd Airborne
By Spencer Wurst
The Boldest Plan Is The Best: The Combat History Of The 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion During WWII
The Boldest Plan Is The Best: The Combat History Of The 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion During WWII
By Jim Travis Broumley
John Robertson

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Shipe​
  • FORENAME
Thomas Allebach​
  • UNIT
503 Infantry Regiment (Airborne) (Company B,1 Bn)​
  • RANK
Private First Class​
  • NUMBER
193384718​
  • DATE OF DEATH
19th September 1970​
  • AGE
22​
  • GRAVESITE
Forest Lawn Gardens,McMurray,Washington County,Pennsylvania​
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Venetia,Pennsylvania​
born 18.5.1948​
single​
attended Peters Township High School​
award Silver Star​
promoted Cpl posthumously​
KIA Binh Dinh Province,South Vietnam​
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 07W Line 75​
​
 

DATE OF DEATH:

19-Sep-1970

CITATION:

Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Thomas A. Shipe, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as a rifleman of Company B, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade, on a combat operation in the Nui Mieu Mountains in the Republic of Vietnam, on 19 September 1970. On that date, while searching for a Viet Cong Political Prisoner of War camp in an area known to contain many enemy soldiers, Private Shipe's element spotted an enemy soldier at the entrance to a cave and took him under fire. Realizing the importance of intelligence that could be obtained from inside the cave, Private Shipe volunteered to be one of two men to enter and search it. After entering the cave a short distance he came under enemy fire at a very close range and was immediately wounded. He began to return fire in the direction of the enemy muzzle flash in order to enable his comrade to reach the cave entrance and signal for help. He continued to return fire until he was mortally wounded by the enemy fire, sacrificing his own life in an attempt to accomplish the mission. By his valorous actions he imparted a sense of urgency, purpose, and determination to the men that ultimately played a key role in the success of the mission. His efforts proved to be the force that helped disrupt the enemy's mission and indirectly saved the lives of many other comrades. Private First Class Shipe's extraordinary heroism was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Last edited by a moderator:
Top