Page 208 - Images: We were...We are
P. 208
29 Jun 2007
I am Tommy's cousin Laura Corebello. Tommy and I grew up in our grandparents'
home in Staten Island. We lived on the second floor where the two apartments
were separated by a door. We grew up as brother and sister rather than cousins.
We would slip notes under the door or talk underneath the crack of the door until
our parents would open it up so we could play. He was my big brother, who taught
me stuff like how to put playing cards in the wheels of my bike to make noise, and
how to tie my shoe laces. He took me trick or treating for the first time.
He liked to drink Olvaltine and playing with erector sets. His dad got him involved
with the scouts and I went out to see him in Valley Forge at a jamboree. I saw him
advance to Eagle Scout.
As a teenager, he loved Elvis Presley.
The last time I saw Tommy was at a dinner we had for him before he left for Nam. I
remember what he ate! He liked spaghetti with ricotta cheese. I was going to
college at the time as an art major, and he was off to a war. We wrote letters back
and forth, in fact, I still have them. I had painted Snoopy on his car before he left,
and then he asked me to send a painting of Snoopy the Red Baron to him in
Vietnam where he put it in his tank.
It was a sad day when we heard the news of his death. I will never forget the pain I
saw in my aunt's eyes. This was her only son. She was left with a Purple Heart and
a flag. To this day, I have a fear of losing my own son from this experience as a
young girl.
His mom and dad are still alive in Arizona, but their health is failing. In fact, I don't
expect Tom's mom to be around too much longer. She is very brave and I know she
will be much happier when she finally gets to be with her son again.
The only memories of the Vietnam War I have are the news clips we saw every
night on TV. I couldn't imagine being in the midst of it. Tommy was a brave soldier
and I am very proud of him. I wish that we could have grown old together.
From his cousin,
Laura Corebello
Section III 172
