A very special Ceremony took place here at the Little sisters of the Poor on September 13, 2014. Ninety-five year old Resident Tom Trimpe handed down a Japanese rifle he acquired on the battlefield of Okinawa during WWII. He handed it down the generations to his beloved grandson Mike, who has shown a great interest in Tom’s military service. Mike attended the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C. in honor of his grandfather. Mike said of the 100 WWII veterans who attended only two were from the Unites States Marine Corps.
Tom Trimpe was in the United States Marine Corps and among the first troops to hit Okinawa on April 1, 1945. These men endured much and saw things that would change them forever. Tom shared his account of being at the battle of Okinawa and how he felt when he found the Japanese rifle. Hearing him speak of these memories of the War touched everyone in the room. It was a beautiful way to honor Tom’s service and share his stories to be passed on to the next generations.
Click Here to read a full account of Tom Trimpe’s experiences during WWII.
WWII Rifle Handed Down To the Next Generations