Thomas W. Pusser

Service & Sacrifice

Thomas Wilson Pusser was born on April 22, 1939, and grew up in Chesterfield, South Carolina. He received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating with the Class of 1961. He earned his Ranger tab and Airborne wings, and qualified in Special Forces, choosing to serve with one of the Army's most demanding and elite units.

CPT Pusser was assigned to Detachment B-52, Project Delta, 5th Special Forces Group, as a Special Forces qualified infantry unit commander. He joined the unit during its early operational period, when Project Delta was still refining the reconnaissance techniques that would make it the premier special operations unit in Vietnam.

On October 22, 1965, CPT Pusser was killed in action during operations in South Vietnam. He was 26 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action.

CPT Pusser is remembered by his fellow West Point alumni as a brother Airborne-Ranger who embodied the ideals of Duty, Honor, Country. The Friends of Rocky Versace, a group honoring Medal of Honor recipient Captain Humbert Roque Versace, regularly commemorate CPT Pusser's birthday, recognizing him as a fellow graduate who gave everything in service to his nation.