Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1956 Lucky Bag:

THOMAS CHARLES LAMPSA

“Wick” found it extremely hard to break away from his trap lines and hunting, for his four years at the Naval Academy. The swimming tests and the obstacle course were no strain for him; he just imagined himself back in the woods on the Canadian border of Minnesota. When he wasn’t out in town visiting one of the many families with whom he made friends, he could generally be found down in the bowling alleys. Whenever he was in his room, you could expect to hear either harmonica music or “picking and stomping” music. Wick was quiet but well liked by everyone.

Loss

Thomas was lost on October 9, 1958 when the C-123 he was piloting crashed in Idaho. He was a member of the 347th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Other Information

From USNA ‘56:

Tom’s sister Linda Tyssen writes: “First Lt. Thomas Charles Lampsa was the co-pilot of a C-123 troop carrier that crashed near Payette, Idaho, on Oct. 9, 1958, killing all 19 on board. He was 25 when he died. After graduating from the Academy, he was commissioned in the Air Force and trained at Marana Air Force Base in Arizona. Tom — we called him Tommy — earned his silver wings and pilot’s rating at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Flying was his passion.

He grew up near Biwabik on northern Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range, amid beautiful pine trees in a little log house with no electricity or indoor plumbing. He was exceptionally bright in many fields, and never lost his love of the outdoor life, hunting and fishing. He was engaged to Kathy Simon of Baltimore, Md., at the time of his death. Our father, Thomas Lampsa, died on Oct. 9, 1973 — ironically, 15 years to the day after his son had died. Our mother, Ailie Lampsa, is 96 years old and still in relatively good health. I am 14 years younger than my brother Tommy and our brother, Larry, is 19 years younger. One of my fondest memories is attending the graduation from the Academy with my mother — I was 9 years old and can remember so vividly the hats tossed into the air. My brother took me on board one of the big ships. We have saved all of his memorabilia from his USNA and Air Force days.”

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Thomas was born in Eveleth, Minnesota.

In November 1949, Thomas traveled with the Biwabik Bi-Hi Braves basketball team to play the Chisholm team. He graduated in 1951 and then attended Virginia junior college.

A member of the Lakeland 4-H club and state champion in forestry demonstration, Thomas received an award at a luncheon on November 30, 1951.

He is buried in Idaho.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

From The Duluth News Tribune on December 1, 1951

Memorial Hall Error

Tom was a 1st Lieutenant in the Air Force, not a LTjg in the Navy as listed in Memorial Hall.