Thomas Vandling laid to rest

A Bellevue soldier who was killed New Year's Day in Iraq was laid to rest Friday, bid farewell by a throng of veterans from many of America's wars and conflicts.
Army Sgt. Thomas Edward Vandling Jr., 26, "is a hero to his generation," said Maj. Gen. Herbert L. Altshular, commander of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command.

Vandling, who was assigned to the 303rd Psychological Operations Company, Oakdale, was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle near Babil Province. He was on his second tour of duty.

"Tommy was a soldier, a son, a brother ... a warrior-citizen. He was a model soldier," Altshular said during the funeral Mass at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bellevue.

Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq attended the service.

"We need to do this. We need to show our support for our service. This is a must," said John E. Spisso, 83, of Latrobe, Westmoreland County, who has attended the funerals of 21 Iraq veterans in Western Pennsylvania since April 2003.

Hundreds of people came to pay their respects to a man whom the Rev. John Gizler said "left a beautiful, positive mark on everyone he met."

Vandling had worked with the Iraqi people to cultivate their support. His lifelong dream was to one day write books, said friends.

"This beloved young man has taught us so much in such a short time," Gizler, parochial vicar at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, said during an emotional eulogy.

Barbara Adams, 46, of Raccoon, Beaver County, a longtime friend of the family, recalled Vandling attending her father's funeral in September.

"My mother asked him: 'Why are you going back?' " she said.

"The job isn't done," was his matter-of-fact reply.

Vandling, a graduate of Northgate High School in Bellevue, was a student at the University of Pittsburgh, where he majored in both psychology and philosophy.

He joined the Army Reserve in August 2001 and had a tour of duty with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Afghanistan two years later. He was deployed in Iraq last spring and was promoted to a noncommissioned officer in September.

Vandling had been awarded numerous military citations and medals, including the Army Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal. Yesterday, he received the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and Purple Heart posthumously.

"Tom's family referred to him always as their hero and now, their guardian angel," Gizler said.

Vandling is survived by his parents, Thomas and Dianne; siblings, James, Michael and Elizabeth; and a large extended family.

He was buried at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Washington County.

From the Tribune

Related Link:
Thomas Vandling remembered

Related Link:
Thomas Vandling reported killed in Iraq