Thomas William McNamara

Thomas William McNamara (November 26, 1926 – January 28, 2020) was a United States Navy officer who served in the Tonkin Gulf during the Vietnam War.

Early life and education McNamara was born November 26, 1926, in the Miners' Mills neighborhood of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He was a son of William and Mary (Quigley) McNamara. After graduation from James M. Coughlin High School, he attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy as a midshipman from February 1945. He was commissioned in the United States Navy Reserve as an ensign upon graduation in June 1948.

Naval career Upon commissioning, McNamara reported for active duty as a division officer aboard the attack transport . Henrico operated in the vicinity of Qingdao until the city fell to the Chinese Communists in 1949 during the Chinese Civil War. Ensign McNamara was released from active duty in October 1949, and received a business degree from Lehigh University in 1951. He was recalled to active duty in 1952 as a lieutenant (junior grade) navigator aboard the attack transport supporting combat operations during the Korean War. After again being released from active duty in 1954, he received a regular navy commission as lieutenant in 1955.

McNamara was executive officer aboard the minesweeper deploying to the western Pacific to conduct training with the Republic of China Navy and Republic of Korea Navy. In May 1958 he reported aboard the destroyer as Operations Officer in the western Pacific. Following promotion to lieutenant commander in 1959, he graduated from the Naval War College in 1962, and was executive officer aboard the destroyer until 1964 including recovery operations for the Mercury 8 space capsule with Wally Schirra and operating off the coast of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Awards McNamara's awards include: Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal with "V" device Meritorious Service Medal Combat Action Ribbon Navy Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Navy Expeditionary Medal China Service Medal National Defense Service Medal with bronze star Korean Service Medal United Nations Service Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal with silver star and two bronze stars Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with device Korean Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross