Saluting the Brave: 107 year old Merchant Marine induction in the Hall of Heroes
Tomah VA Medical Center inducted 107-year-old Veteran, U.S. Merchant Marine Reynolds Lloyd Tomter, into their Hall of Heroes on December 3, 2024.
Mr. Reynolds L. Tomter was born April 26, 1917, (yes this will make Mr. Tomter 108 on his next birthday). He lived on a farm 2 miles from where he came to reside in Pigeon Falls, WI. He married Dorothea Hoff in 1939, and had a daughter, Julie Ann. Mr. Tomter was drafted into the United States military in March 1943. He went to Milwaukee with the intention to join the Navy. His plans changed when the daily allotment was full, so he joined the Merchant Marines that same day and served until the end of WWII in 1945.
It has been stated that in WWII the US Merchant Marines delivered the necessary cargo to support Allied Forces worldwide which helped to ultimately secure victory. 11,200 Mariners were injured during the conflict and dozens were captured and tortured as POW's. The Merchant Marines were present at every invasion in WWII and transported over 700,000 service members overseas.
Mr. Tomter served in the WWII Merchant Marines and participated in the greatest sea lift in history of our nation. We owe our freedom to men like Mr. Tomter, who selflessly served in the most dangerous arena of the war. Mr. Tomter completed five treacherous trips across the Atlantic Ocean. He was assigned to the Atlantic/Mediterranean conflict to serve in the following: K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 349th Bombing Squadron; 100th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, and 1st Battalion; 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. The vessels that Mr. Tomter served on transported goods, equipment and troops across the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Mr. Tomter received numerous awards, one of which was the Atlantic War Zone Medal. This medal was awarded for service in the Atlantic war zone including the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Barents Sea, and the Greenland Sea during the period of December the 7th 1941, to November the 8th 1945. He served his county bravely as a chief baker and backup aircraft gunner and was discharged from the Merchant Marines at the rank of Steward’s Mate 3rd Class in 1945.
Despite his tremendous service and the promise of benefits equivalent to the GI Bill from FDR, Mr. Tomter and all other Merchant Marines were denied Veteran status until 1988.
After the war, Mr. Tomter returned to his family and community and embarked on a life of leadership and service. He and his wife, Dorothea, welcomed another child, a son named Reynolds O. Tomter, affectionately known as "Bud." Mr. Tomter initially worked at a general store, but soon he and his business partner purchased the store. He started the local Lions Club, became a lifetime member of the American Legion, and enrolled in technical school to earn his real estate license.
Mr. Tomter is the oldest living member of the American Merchant Marine Veterans. He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his heroic military service and his dedicated community service. He exemplifies selfless service to his community, Wisconsin, and the United States.
After the unveiling of his Hall of Heroes plaque, Mr. Tomter gave an eloquent acceptance speech reflecting on his time in the service and thanked everyone for the honor of being inducted.
The Hall of Heroes was created to honor Veterans who excel, and Mr. Tomter has truly earned this recognition. The Tomah VA Medical Center is honored to have Mr. Reynold L. Tomter as this year’s Hall of Heroes Inductee.