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Personal Data:
  Home of Record:  Tulsa, OK
  Date of Birth:  Jun 24, 1936
 
Military Data:
  Service:  Army of the United States
  Rank & Grade at Loss:  Chief Warrant Officer W2
  Promotion Note:  None
  ID:  W3154258
  MOS or Specialty:  062B Helicopter Pilot, Utility & Light cargo single rotor
  Length of Service:  14
  Unit:  191stAHC, 214thAvnBn, 12thAvnGrp, 1stAvnBde, USARV
Casualty Data:
  Start Tour:     May 22, 1967
  Incident:  Feb 1, 1968
  Age at Loss:  31
  Location: Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam
  Remains:  Body recovered
  Casualty:  Air loss or crash over land
  Type casualty: Hostile, died outright
  Casualty detail:  Helicopter Pilot

Obit submitted by Billly M Brown

Chief Warrant Officer Tommy Gerald Sandefur, a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, died in Vietnam on Feb. 1, 1968, from wounds he sustained while engaged in combat operations against a large enemy force entrenched in fortified positions in and around the Vietnamese city of Ba Ria.

For his actions that day Tommy was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against an armed hostile force.

Other awards and decorations that Tommy received for his military service include: the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and U.S. Army Aviator Wings.

Tommy was born June 24, 1936, in Haskell, Okla. He grew up in nearby Tulsa, graduating from Central High School in 1954.

In 1966 Tommy became a U.S. Army Warrant Officer and a helicopter pilot after completing the Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course at Fort Wolters, Texas, and Fort Rucker, Ala. (Flight School Class 66-13).

Shortly after Tommy graduated from Flight School, he was assigned to the 191st Assault Helicopter Company, which was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC.

In May of 1967 Tommy deployed to Vietnam with the 191st where he served as an aircraft commander and fire team leader until his untimely death in February of 1968.

Tommy was 31 years old at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife, Carole Payne Sandefur of LaGrange, Ga., a daughter, Lisa, a son, Marc; his parents, S. T. and Neva Sandefur, and sisters, Karalee, Ann, Kaye, and Janet of Tulsa.

Tommy's picture and the information contained in his bio were collected and provided by his niece Terri Beckham and the 191st AHC Association.