Sgt. Thomas Ferrell Allison was born in Parkland, Washington, in October 1979. He had a brother, who later became an Army sergeant, and two sisters. In grade school, Allison enjoyed playing war and otherwise messing around at church camp. He graduated from Washington High School, then joined the Army. Christian faith was so much a central part of Allison’s life that his family reported that, when they were concerned for his safety in the service, he would attempt to reassure them by saying, “Some of us will get to heaven first.”

Allison was assigned to Company E of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. This unit, based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, is called the Night Stalkers, an elite team named for their specialty in transporting combat troops by helicopter undercover at night. They played a crucial role in Operation Enduring Freedom as a part of a larger 660-member American force tasked with training soldiers in the Philippines to fight extremist Muslim guerrillas.

A total of 10 service members, including Allison, two Air Force para-rescuers and seven other helicopter crew members, were on a mission to scout Muslim rebels on Basilan Island when their MH-47E Chinook helicopter erupted in a fireball for unknown reasons. It plummeted into the Bohol Sea, killing all on board. In the aftermath of the crash, which took place on Feb. 22, 2002, only three bodies were recovered, and none of the three was Allison’s.

His family received an oak chest with his ribbons and medals pinned along its velvet lining. Those awards included a Legion of Merit, an Air Medal, an Army Service Ribbon, a Basic Aviation Badge, a Parachutist Badge and an Air Assault Badge. A memorial service took place for Allison at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington, where a gravestone currently stands in Allison’s honor.

To post a tribute this Memorial Day for Thomas Ferrell Allison, please visit the Veterans Legacy Memorial at https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/THOMASFERRELLALLISON/37422DC.

We honor his service.

In 2022, VA is joining forces with Carry The Load to honor veterans during the “Memorial May” March, a national relay visiting 50 VA national cemeteries to honor our nation’s fallen service members. A link to this webpage is here. The complete list of participating cemeteries can be found here. Volunteers are encouraged to register in advance.


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