Tom Armstrong Passed Away Today

[lugerholsterrepair]

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