Victory Gardens, Air Raids, and Funerals: Reflections From Hillsdale’s 83-Year-Old Veteran Student
Written by Stephanie Gordon
Frank “Tom” Thompson always thought it would be nice to have a college degree, although when he was young, a degree wasn’t considered necessary for many occupations. Now, at age 83, it’s safe to say that Tom has experienced a little bit of life. The veteran who served during the Secret CIA War in Laos is currently a sophomore, fulfilling his dream of earning a degree in American history.
Because of the Hillsdale College Freedom Scholarship, Tom and 15 other veteran students from the five military branches are working toward their college degrees this semester. The Hillsdale administration first proposed the idea of the Freedom Scholarship in the early 2000s. In 2011, thanks to the generosity of private donors, the idea came to fruition and the College was able to recruit veteran students, covering the cost of their education, housing, and books.
“It’s a success story, it really is,” said Director of Financial Aid Rich Moeggenberg. “They have all of these real life responsibilities, but yet they’re coming to Hillsdale and making it happen. That’s a challenge that other students here don’t have. These veterans, in some cases, have a responsibility to their spouse, their families, and their future. Yet, they’re here, in their classes, doing their best.”
According to Jeffery “Chief” Rogers, associate dean of men, it’s all about an attitude of gratitude.
“They are blessed to be here,” he said. “No veteran is here without that scholarship. They had to have served long enough to acquire the Post-911 GI Bill, which is given to service members after four years of active duty service.”
Tom was drawn to Hillsdale because he wanted traditional teaching and unvarnished truth. His hope is to teach “both sides of the coin” of history to all who will listen. Tom claims that Americans have lost so much of America’s history in these progressive days. Those who actually lived it may be the last beacons of truth to the younger people.
“I enlisted in the United States Air Force on the promise of becoming a pilot,” said Tom. “After a little more than a year, I was commissioned as a second lieutenant, followed by a first lieutenant. Three years later, I was promoted to captain.”
After he was newly promoted to captain, Strategic Air Command headquarters canceled his pilot training assignment for “national security reasons.” In a juvenile rebellion, he went to the nearest naval base in Washington State and applied for admission to pilot training.
“I was accepted into the Navy pilot training program as an in-service transfer,” Tom said. “Without a doubt, that didn’t sit very well with the Air Force.”
Tom went on to explain that he has been involved with wars most of his life. He recalls it being a time of victory gardens, air raids, and funerals. He was a pilot during the Secret CIA War in Laos and was in the Officer’s Club in Rhein Main, Germany, when Black September bombed the Germans.
“Thank God that’s all behind me,” said Tom. “The highlight of those years was getting to march in the victory parade after defeating Hitler with my pet goat and my girlfriend, Nancy,” Tom said. “My mom made victory posters, and I remember walking behind a band.”
Even after all these years, Tom thought his opportunity to finish college was lost. He was never able to use the GI Bill before it expired, and while Hillsdale was always on Tom’s radar, he didn’t consider himself qualified.
“More than anything, I am amazed to be here,” said Tom. “There are times when I expect to wake up and find President Arnn on my doorstep saying, ‘we made a mistake—pack your bag.’”
During Tom’s next few years on campus, he is hoping to truly understand how the Founding Fathers and subsequent influential men could envision and create an entirely different and better country than any other country in the world.
Tom and his wife, Mary, have five children. He believes his family is extremely proud, and said his wife has gone the extra mile in supporting his efforts.
“Tom came and moved to Hillsdale,” said Rich Moeggenberg. “He believes in our mission and loves the country. I’m not 80 yet, but there’s no way I can compete in a classroom. With his courage and fortitude, it speaks to his persistence.”
Tom said life is too short to waste an opportunity like this. He encouraged other interested veterans to apply and “go for it.”
“I am genuinely grateful for the Freedom Scholarship,” Tom concluded. “For without it, completing my degree would be impossible.”
To learn more about the Freedom Scholarship, click here.
Tom and his wife, Mary.
Stephanie Gordon, a lifelong Hillsdale native, is the Managing Editor of the Student Stories Blog. She is married to chiropractor, Dr. Matt Gordon, and has three children – Eloise, Flora, and Jack. When she has a spare moment, she enjoys paleo baking, floating on Baw Beese Lake, and breaking a sweat at the gym.
Published in November 2021