NIGHTSTALKERS Field, Thomas Joseph

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Field
  • FORENAME
Thomas J. (Tommie)
  • UNIT
Company D 1 Bn
  • RANK
Staff Sergeant
  • NUMBER
  • DATE OF DEATH
3rd October 1993
  • AGE
25
  • GRAVESITE
Saint Anne Cemetery, Lisbon, Maine, USA
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 11.4.1968 Lisbon, Maine
father Frederick J Field (1935-2008)
mother Kimiko Y Field (1933-1997)
graduated Lisbon High School, Maine 1986
joined Army 1987
crew chief
KIA Mogadishu, Somalia
American Soldier. Staff Sergeant Thomas J. "Tommy" Field served in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), also known as the Night Stalkers - an elite group of the Army's best aviators. He was a crew chief on Super 6-4, one of the Black Hawk helicopters that was shot down during Operation Gothic Serpent in the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. The battle ended up being the biggest firefight for American troops since the Vietnam War. Sergeant Field survived the crash, but was killed (along with co-pilot Raymond Frank, crew chief William Cleveland, and Delta Force snipers Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon, who were trying to defend the wounded crew) when the crash site was taken over by an angry mob of Somali militia. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Valor Device, Meritorious Service Medal, and Purple Heart. His ordeal, and that of his comrades, is the basis for the award-winning movie "Black Hawk Down", in which he is one of the soldiers listed at the beginning of the credits that the movie is dedicated to.
 

DATE OF DEATH:

03-Oct-1993

AWARD:

https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/field-thomas-j-tommie.58137/

CITATION:

Silver Star : The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Thomas Field, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against hostile enemy forces while serving as a Crew Chief on board "Super 64," an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in Company D, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), during combat operations in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 3 October 1993. Staff Sergeant Field's helicopter was hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade while providing protective fires for a downed helicopter from his unit and crashed into the street where the downed air crew was surrounded by a numerically superior enemy force. Staff Sergeant Field was mortally wounded while gallantly defending his aircraft, fellow crew members, and ground force members of Task Force RANGER in the vicinity of the crash site. His courage and determination in the face of grave danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military forces and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army .

FINDAGRAVE:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21123272/thomas-joseph-field
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