More detail on this person: Hampton - COL Thomas H. Trombley, age 78, US Army (Ret), bid farewell to his earthly family to join his heavenly family on Memorial Day, May 29, 2017. He was born November 25, 1938, in Waterbur y, CT. Tom is preceded in death by parents James and Jean Trombley, sister Jean Brest, brother Ozzie Trombley, and gra ndson Thomas Karafa, his namesake. Words, too many to list here, cannot begin to describe the wonder ful life Tom lived. A 1960 graduate of The Citadel, Tom embarked on an illustrious career as an Officer in the United States Army serving multiple tours as a Combat Helicopter Pilot with the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam a nd retiring as the TR ADOC Inspector General at Fort Monroe, Virginia . Tom truly was an American hero and was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star with 2 OLCs, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 2 OLCs, and numerous other awards and commendations. Tom (lovingly known to his family as Pop Pop and The Colonel) will be remembered, first and foremost, as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and the sincerest friend to all who came to know him. Tom was a man of Honor with unimpeachable integrity and his presence, demeanor, and smile would put you at immediate rest for you knew that a good time was about to be had. Tom was a loving, caring, and giving person who enjoyed flying and was an avid golfer his entire life. Tom was survived by his loving wife Linda Lee Trombley of the past 12 years. Tom had a wonderful and adoring family of 4 surviving daughters Tracie Karafa, Kathleen Smith, Lisa Strickland, and Elizabeth Faulkner along with surviving ex-wife Sandra Hayes Trombley, and step-son James Chapman. Tom was also a loving grandfather of 10 grandchildren, Ronnie Smith Jr, Ryan Smith, Joey Deavers, Tommy Karafa, Kristen Deavers, Emily Karafa, Brandon Faulkner, Bradley Faulkner, Kathleen Strickland, and Kelsey Faulkner. Tom is also survived by 3 great-grandchildren Lana, Windsor, and Olivia. COL Thomas H. Trombley will be laid to peaceful rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at a date and time soon to be determined. The family asks in lieu of flowers to make a donation to the ALS Association.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery
This information was last updated 07/11/2017
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2025 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association