LTC Thomas Osborn filed his last flight plan on 10 June 2013. He was born at home in Owensburg, IN, on 28 Nov 1934, the seventh child of Verdie and Susie Strosnider Osborn. He attended the old Owensburg elementary school, graduated from Oolitic High School in 1952, and was valedictorian of his graduating class. His classmates honored him with the Outstanding Alumnus award at his 50th high school reunion. He attended Indiana University and Incarnate Word in San Antonio where he received a BA in 1971. In 1974, he received a Masters in Health Care Administration from Baylor University.
Osborn joined the Army and was trained as a medical evacuation helicopter pilot, shipping out from Fort Sam Houston with the 498th Air Ambulance Company, the first such company deployed to Vietnam, in 1965. Osborn’s copter was shot down once, in the last month of his second tour of duty. He was rescued but suffered wounds to his left arm that required more than a year of rehabilitation at the old Brooke Army Medical Center.
His military awards include Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters and V device, Purple Heart, Air Medal 1 – 18 with Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, two awards of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Medals, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device, Army Commendation Medal, Korean In Hun Medal. He flew Medevac for 18 years and was proud of the fact that he helped save many lives.
He was a member of several organizations including The Military Order of the Purple Heart, American Legion, Disabled Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of the VFW Honor Guard for many years.