CPL.
THOMAS FRANK SHANKS
Born
on Nov. 23, 1946
From CORAOPOLIS, PENNSYLVANIA
Casualty was on Sept. 12, 1967
in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
Panel 26E - - Line 63
Cpl. Thomas Shanks served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, India Company in Vietnam. He was Killed In Action during Operation SWIFT. His name stands proud alongside the Marines and FMF Corpsmen he served with on the India 3/5 Wall of Honor. Semper fi, Brother Marine. We will never forget.
Remembered always, my Brother
Born the first child of Lieutenant Earl Thomas Hedlund (Detroit, MI PD) and Joyce A. Plaunt, Thomas was adopted at the age of 3 years to Joyce's second husband Donald Shanks. Thomas lived at 22718 Port Blvd. from 1955-1960. He then moved to Glenwillard, PA and graduated from Moon Township's High School in 1964.
Thomas never met his birth father as he grew up, and didn't know about his other siblings except for his brothers Gerald & Daniel. Thomas is survived by 3 brothers & 4 sisters. He was a well-liked young man, popular with his school mates and deeply missed by all who knew him.~Gerald Shanks
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Proud to have served with such a brave Marine
Cpl. Shanks was my first fire team leader in Vietnam. I remember him as a courageous Marine who died in a firefight during Operation Swift. He led a listening post the night before that encountered an enemy company that was preparing to attack our command. We inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy that morning but unfortunately CPL Shanks died from his wounds. I will never forget his bravery and leadership.
Semper Fi,
Joe Klinger, Sgt USMC I/3/5 and CDRUSNR
