Faces Bio

Thomas John Mallon was born on August 9, 1946, in Tuckahoe, NY, to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Mallon. He later moved to Park Ridge, NJ, with his parents and his sister, Melissa. A 1964 graduate of Park Ridge High School, Thomas' interests included golf and baseball. Tom was a pitcher for his high school baseball team.

Mallon was accepted at several colleges but decided to join the US Marines first to fulfill his military duties before college. He attained the rank of Corporal (CPL). He enlisted with his good friend, Tom O'Brien, on the buddy system.

Mallon served first in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and then Vietnam. In Vietnam, he was assigned to Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines.

He was killed by mortar shell near Quang Tri Province, near the demilitarized zone, on March 3, 1967. He was scheduled to return home in May.

Tom's father was a veteran of WWII where he served as a Sergeant in the 16th Infantry First Division - "The Big Red 1". He served in Italy and North Africa where he was wounded.

Sources: Diane Wallace (aunt), Roger Liggon (veteran), newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.