Tom Armstrong Passed Away Today
 

I am sorry to bring this news. My close friend and fellow collector LTC Thomas Armstrong passed away this morning at approx 11:00 hours while in the hospital from complications. Tom has always been outspoken advocate for our rights, a kind, considerate and a true friend to everyone that I know.

I will keep everyone informed or George Anderson will inform us of the arrangments.


I will truely miss him.

Sad to hear. I had met him at a NAPCA meeting a few years ago and also t SOS. Also had a few dealings with him

A gentleman and a person whose word was his bond and whose word was accurate.

Rip
 

On to Valhalla....

Please join me in a toast to celebrate of the wonderful life of our good friend.

God speed to you now, Tom. I pray the angels carry you softly.

Tom
 

AMEN to that Susan. A good man R.I.P Tom my prayers go out to the family.

The man knew Navy Lugers better than anyone I know. He was always ready to help anyone willing to learn about them. Thus passes a great warrior for our freedoms. I will truly miss my friend Tom.

A sad day and a great loss for his family and for the Forum. Tom was always willing to share his extensive knowlege with those of us less informed and he will be missed.
Lyn

Very sad to hear this. RIP Tom.

A sad day for his family and friends, and a great loss to the Luger collecting community. Tom and I had lunch many times, and I know what a quiet hero he truely was.

He was a great behind the scenes advisor to many rookie collectors. He shall be greatly missed by all who knew him..

George, please keep us all advised on Tom's funeral arrangments.

Thank you Ed, for getting the news to us so quickly.

May God bring peace and comfort to his family as they cope with his loss.

-John

Very sad and he will be missed.

sad to hear...
 

It is a very sad day indeed.. Tom was the most knowledgable navy Luger person I ever knew.. I certainly will miss him, and remember him.. Our prayers are now with his family.. til..lat'r....GT

Our best to his family. He will be missed a great deal.

Ron

We have lost a real Navy luger legend!

I will miss our emails over Lewis guns, a real loss

He will be missed.. In our talks about Kriegs - I valued his enthusiasm and has ability to quickly learn and appreciate that variation. He was an impassioned collector and quick to share that same enthusiasm with other collectors.

His was a cornerstone to all that collecting should be about - and is...

Prayers to Cathrine and the surviving family...

Gods speed, Tom, my friend...

John

The luger community has lost a true friend. My thoughts and prayers to the family. Bill

I am saddened by the news of Tom’s demise. His keen mind and wry wit added value to many discussions on the forums. I know that his legacy will be that for years to come when his grizzled friends gather together in the evenings after gun shows, his name will bring smiles to our faces and frequently a lump in the throat may be quickly subdued with an adult beverage as a toast in his honor. I have no doubt that in the future some new collector will display a pristine piece and proudly announce that “this was once in the Tom Armstrong collection”. As Taps sound for our former comrade in arms let us rejoice that we knew him and know that he will be there to welcome us home one day. Our prayers go with him and his family that loved him.

Sad to hear this notice!
My prayers are for him and his family.
Mauro

Words are insufficient, but Ron's do pretty well. RIP Tom.

--Dwight

I did not know Tom but would like to know his screen name on this forum to read some of his posts and get a feel for this man. Thanks, Curt

Here you go:

Navy

He was the 28th Member of the Forum..

John

I never had the opportunity to meet the man in person. After Frank DeMauro died he contacted me about repairing Luger holsters. He was my first client. He was a tried and true Friend for 15 years. An example of how close internet relationships can be without ever meeting face to face. He was a comrade in arms,an honorable and brave Soldier, commanding a unit of the 173rd Airborne. We traveled the same jungle paths, endured the same privations, lost the same friends to come home to a life we dreamed of while there. He was very successful at it, having a Daughter just graduate from medical school and his son just graduate from law school. Tom was the great family man and that will go on in his stead. As many have said before me he was the consumate collector, achieving heights I only dream about. I used him on many an occasion for answers and have missed him recently as a source of knowledge. I will miss him more now. As I followed his stay in hospital I had hoped of a miraculous comeback...Catherine was with him 24-7 for right on 7 months. He could not have had a better companion in life and she was with him till the last. We can mouth the platitudes that this is for the best..he is in a better place and we come to realize that it is true in this case. As a mans man..unless he could recover completely he is better off not to suffer the degradation of anything less than a full life. I believe that death is God's gift to us. We will all walk this road in one way or another. I hope we too achieve the love and admiration of our fellows as Tom has done.

Airborne All the Way Sir!

Jerry Burney

All members of the Herd are special which makes it real tough when one if them passes away.

Read Jerry Burney's "epitaph" on Jan Still's Forum. It says it almost as well as Ron has said it.

Wow thats hard to believe,My prayers are with his loved ones. c

Devastating news :( Rest In Peace Tom.

He was a very kind man to me who graciouslly answered my every e-mail question concerning Navy's with authority and patience. He always gave an answer that you knew was right. He will be missed.

I knew Tom and am greatly saddened by his passing, he will be missed. My condolences to his family. Sam Buscemi

has there been any word on the funeral arrangements?

Tom's funeral will be at Arlington National Cemetary. Due to the long waiting list, the funeral will not take place until September or October.

There will be no memorial service. The only service will be at graveside in Arlington.

In lieu of flowers Tom's family has asked that financial gifts be made to a newly established endowment in Tom's name at The University of Florida. The endowment will provide financial support to veteran students. I will provide details regarding the endowment in a few days.

Thank you for the update George... If you will post the information in this thread when it is known, I am sure that those forum members in this area who knew Tom personally would like to attend, me included!

The veterans' scholarship fund at the University of Florida in the name of LTC James T Armstrong has been set up. I have attached a donation form for any members who may want to make a contribution.

Sad news. I only knew him trough the forum, but I will miss him. My condolences to his family.

I have not visited forum in some time and just now know of Tom Armstong's passing. I built two baby Lugers for Tom and arranged for him to buy a third that I had built for another person. Only met him once at Kansas City show in late 1990's. Fine fellow!

Art, good to hear from you. I know that Tom told me how you made these baby's for him and he presented one to each of his kids.

He was very proud of those as gifts.


Ed

The funeral services for Tom we be October 8th at Arlington National Cemetary. A reception will be held at the Fort Myer Officers Club.

A block of rooms has been set aside at the Hilton Hotel in Springfield Virginia. They are holding rooms at a discounted rate. The group code is TAFS. I believ transportation to and from the service may be offered by the Hilton, not real sure about that but some of us who will be staying there will have room available. The number for the Hilton is 703.971.8900 ext 7119.

As I posted earlier a scholarship fund for veterans has been established in Tom's name at The University of Florida. Anyone who would like to make a gift can use the attachment below.

George,
That's the Ft. Myer Officers Club isn't it?
Myer is adjacent to Arlington National Cemetary and where the Chapels serving ANC are located. Ft.Monroe is down near Norfolk.

Yep, my error, Ft. Monroe is a bit of a drive. I'll correct it. Thanks.

THANKS George for the update.

Sad news. rest in peace.

I just wanted to let everyone know, that our dear friend and longtime forum member, and moderator, LTC James "Tom" Armstrong, was finally laid to rest with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, October 8th, with his family and many friends in attendance.

It was a solemn and awesome ceremony. A Military procession complete with horse drawn caisson, Army Band, an Honor Guard escort from the 3rd Infantry Division (Old Guard), and 21-gun salute. A Hero laid to rest.

Rest in Peace Tom, You will be missed, but not forgotten...

I was honored to be there...I took no photographs, as I felt that would have been inappropriate. (The included file photo of the funeral caisson is identical to that used for Tom's service.)

My thanks to George Anderson for keeping me in the loop on the funeral arrangements.