Tom’s Story

Along with many patriotic young men and women born around 1948, Tom Koenig served in Vietnam. He finished the Air Force tech training school in half the usual time, specialized in electronics and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant, E-5, in just four years. Tom’s work servicing and maintaining ground navigational aids (similar to the guts of the orange and white checkered sheds you see along civilian airport runways) ensured countless safe landings at air strips all over that country. Returning home, his tour of duty “safely” behind him, God blessed Tom with a productive life along with marriage, two children, and a large circle of loving family and friends.

We are so grateful that Tom was spared the fighting and combat experiences many have shared, or did not survive to share. But now, 50+ years later, he IS fighting, not for his country, but for his life. Operation Ranch Hand was our military’s answer to North Vietnam’s dense tropical forests providing cover for the Viet Cong troops. More than 13 million gallons of the herbicide called Agent Orange were released during 1961-1971 with lifelong consequences for millions of people.

The consequence for Tom has been managing Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia for the past 15 years. Thanks to lots of prayers, good medical care and constant loving support from his wife, Kathie, he’s done so with varying degrees of success, and always with a high degree of strength and courage. But 2024 has been a challenging year. What were once occasional blood and platelet transfusions have become frequent events. Each one requires several hours of time, and over time, lots of blood.

This is your chance to join TEAM TOM!

Please honor and support Tom by donating blood, platelets or plasma. Your donation may not go directly to him but will help to replenish the supply that he has been so grateful to receive.

Thanks and God bless you,
Tom’s sister, Nancy