Rank: Private, Pv-2 (Army), Pvt (Airforce, Marine Corps)
Unit: L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11B – Infantryman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Track L-66
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 4-Sep-1946
Hometown: Peoria, Illinois
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: Unknown
Start of tour: 23-Aug-1966
Incident date: 21-Jul-1967
Date of casualty: 21-Jul-1967
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire. Individual died as the result of wounds received when he engaged hostile force in firefight while passenger in a military vehicle on convoy.
Fourteen Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
CPT William Forman Abernethy
PFC James Francis Bean
PFC John Joseph Campa
PFC Roosevelt C. Curley
SP4 Lawrence Michael Dawson
PFC George Arthur Foster
PVT Thomas Francis Ganion
PFC Douglas Wayne Hill
PFC Frank Daniel Leal
PFC Gary Alfred McLennan
PFC Billy Gene Rodgers
SP4 Richard James Schutz
1LT Ponder Ray Sims
PFC James Lemar Whitfield
Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YT 430 308
Place of interment: Swan Lake Memory Gardens, Peoria, Illinois, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE THOMAS FRANCIS GANION
21 JULY 1967
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private Ganion distinguished himself by valorous actions on 21 July 1967 while participating in a search and secure mission near Xa Binh Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam. As the lead troop was entering its assigned sector of security, it came under heavy anti-tank and automatic weapons fire from an undetermined number of Viet Cong. Reacting instantly, Private Ganion immediately began evasive action and skillfully eluded the heavy concentration of Viet Cong fire. Undaunted by the withering enemy fire being delivered at the onrushing vehicle, he expertly charged the positions completely obliterating the enemy. As he rapidly withdrew from the fortification, a rocket round pierced the engine compartment and severely injured Private Ganion. Although in agonizing pain, he valiantly refused to leave his post and continued to evade the enemy fire until the moment of his death. His courage, aggressiveness, and outstanding determination against insurmountable odds served as an inspiring example to all his comrades. Private Ganion’s bravery under fire and devotion to duty are in keeping with highest tradition of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 3857 (4 August 1967)