Thomas S. Oliver, Jr. – Brigadier General, United Sttes Army

From a contemporary press report

Services for Thomas S. Oliver Jr., who served with the Marines in the Vietnam War and later rose to Brigadier General of the New York National Guard, will be held at 1 pm Monday in Bury and Roberts Funeral Home, 3070 Delaware Ave., Kenmore, New York. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Oliver, 55, of the City of Tonawanda died Thursday (April 13, 1995) in Buffalo General Hospital after a long battle with cancer. He attended Bennett High School in Buffalo before beginning his 20-year Marine Corps career. He served in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968 and as chief criminal investigator for the Fleet Marine Force in Hawaii. He retired with the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in 1976. After returning to the Buffalo area, he settled in the City of Tonawanda, where he was a foreman at Tonawanda Coke Co. He joined the New York Guard in 1977 and rose to Brigadier General.

His citations included the 35 Year Long and Faithful Service Award, New York Guard Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon.

He was a member of the Erie County Reserve Sheriff's Scientific Division and a City of Tonawanda Republican committeeman.

Surviving are his wife, Sue; two sons, Navy Lieutenant Thomas of Chesapeake, Va, and John of the City of Tonawanda; a daughter, Elizabeth Tanger of Lockport; three brothers, Joseph of Nevada, Dean Wilson of Minnesota and Terry Wilson of Silver Creek; and a sister, Karen LaDue of Williamsville.

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