Thomas Albert “Tom” Kilmer was born on September 25, 1959 in Doylestown, PA to William I. and Ruth Ann Scarborough Kilmer. Tom was proud of his father, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Korea and later was the business owner of K&K Truck Service in Crosskeys, PA. Tom grew up in Bucks County and graduated with honors from Central Bucks East High School in Buckingham, PA, where he excelled in football and was a star wrestler. He also shined on the Central Bucks East TV and the East Wind newspaper staffs. Tom enjoyed music as a proud member of the stage, marching, and concert bands. Amongst all of his accomplishments, Tom also found time to rise to the Star rank in the Boy Scouts. He was very active in his church as a member of the Church Youth Fellowship. Tom was accepted to the University of Delaware, where he excelled in ROTC and was a member in good standing in the Delta-Tau-Delta Fraternity, Beta Upsilon Chapter, while he applied to the United States Military Academy.

Upon receiving his ROTC appointment to West Point in 1979, Tom joined the Class of 1983. Tom was a stalwart letterman wrestler all four of our years at school. Tom also participated in Sport Parachuting and the Dialectic Society. In his firstie year, Tom selected the Armor branch.

The Class of 1983 so fondly remembers Tommy “Killer” Kilmer living in the Army Wrestling room. That special bond that forms between wrestlers on the small, sweaty, loud, competitive, black and gold Army wrestling mats never seems to fade away over the years. They remember Killer always at the center of the mat. He was (and always remains) a giant of a cadet, wrestler, and man, competing on every level: mind and body. Always one of affable personality, large smiles, encouraging words and high motivation, classmates readily and easily called him “friend.” On the Army wrestling mats, Killer was always the competitor, but somehow, was also able to pull off being a friend, coach and huge encourager to others. Killer lives on in Army wrestling history in perpetuity.

Tom’s extracurricular exploits as a cadet were legendary. Who could forget Tommy’s H-4 Yuck’s Bar and Grill? As a wrestler, Tommy spirited extra food back to the barracks, where he would cook up grilled cheese sandwiches among other specialties on his camp stove to keep classmates well fed during study barracks. Tommy was truly a mastermind at enjoying life in the Lost Fifties.

Even though camping passes were likely not a thing, Tommy and the boys convinced their TAC that it was good training. Armed with provisions from the Mess Hall, this motley crew would highjack the duty driver and convince him to drop them at their usual spot, a convenient two-mile hike from Fort Montgomery and local libations. Tommy was at his best when he was camping with the Hogs! 

Companymates all remember him cooling off in the creek while tipping one and singing goofy songs.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant, Tom attended the Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, KY. After schooling in 1983, Tom was first assigned as a platoon leader to the 1st Infantry Division (“The Big Red One”) at Fort Riley, KS. Tom’s second assignment took him to Germany as the company XO in the 2-37Armored Battalion in 1984. In 1987, Tom returned to the U.S. Army Armor School at Fort Knox for his advanced course.

Between assignments, Tom managed to earn his Ranger Tab and complete Air Ground Operation School. At the latter, Tom ran into his firstie roommate, Ruben, who was recovering from Ranger School himself. Ruben credited Tom with nursing him back to health, eating most every dinner together. Ruben recalls Tom’s wife always being the center of his conversations. After schooling, Tom was assigned to 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division at Fort Polk, LA. From 1988 to 1990, Tom was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment.

In 1990, after seven years on active duty, Tom resigned his commission to pursue a civilian career, landing a job as a production supervisor for the Dial Corporation. Tom later held a leadership position at the Contico Plastic Company.

Tom was killed by a drunk driver in Weldon Spring, MO on his way home from work on February 26, 1998 at only 38 years of age. Without warning, Tom’s daughters—ages 10, 9 and 6—lost their father in this senseless tragedy.

Tom and his wife, Maria, also a U.S. Army veteran, have three children: Sara, Teresa and Diana. There are now three grandchildren he never knew: Michael, Payton and Reagan. Tom cared about his parish, his profession, and most importantly his family. He was a devoted father, husband, son, and brother. Tom was active in his parish as an usher and assisted with the St. Vincent DePaul Society as well as in countless other ways. He was very engaged as a volunteer at his daughters’ elementary school, a teacher favorite for field trip chaperone. Tom was very generous with his time and always was willing to lend a helping hand.

“Killer” is actually a nice guy, contrary to the opinion of wrestlers on the East Coast. His leave time activities included sitting on the back of his Scout, guzzling, and shooting “cans” with his .45

— 1983 Howitzer