Thomas Leopold Busch III

Lance Corporal Thomas Leopold Busch III was born on February 10, 1949, to Thomas and Mildred Busch. He was raised in Pennsauken, NJ, with his brother, Ernest, and three sisters, Jayne, Deborah and Virginia. He graduated from Pennsauken High School in 1967. Busch enjoyed motorcycle riding, water skiing, boating and all sports.

Thomas left Pennsauken to serve in the US Marine Corps. He attained the rank of Lance Corporal. Busch was the operator of a vehicle known as a Huskie. He was killed in action from an explosive device while leading a security patrol in Quang Nam, South Vietnam on August 21, 1969, at the age of 20.

Lance Corporal Thomas Leopold Busch III is buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey — Plot V, Site 2224.

Thomas L. Busch III is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 19W, Line 84.

To Thomas— I was only in 3rd grade when you passed, I remember the day as if it were yesterday. Being so young, you don’t understand what it means when you see that “Marine” dressed so proudly come to the door and it’s not your brother… As soon as daddy (a Pennsauken police officer at the time) pulled up in front of the house, HE knew… something was wrong. When he stepped out of the car and slammed that door, I thought it was going to fall off the hinges. This is when I knew something was wrong. I love you, and I remember the strangest things, like how you would catch spiders and put them on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Daddy and Junior are with you now and I know you guys are having a beer and laughing your asses off. As mentioned before by Ernie, Randy, Purk and Joe, keep a “cold one” for me and a spot at the bar. Until we laugh together again, I miss all of you and love you with all my heart.

— Love Ginger, loving sister — March 12, 2009

I Tried to Follow Your Footsteps

I tried to follow your foot steps, in the Corps. Hey Tom, I will always remember, when I gave you dollar bills, to lay wheel with your Harley, also washed your big red Caddie, but most of all, you are always in my prayers. Hopefully, we will be neighbors again — Semper Fi!

— Georgie Purkins Jr. — March 18, 2007

Mt. Everest and the Old Chuck Wagon

Tommy, it’s been many moons. I’ll always remember, Mt. Everest, Mt. Schmidt’s, and the dances. The old Chuck Wagon, the one and only red Caddie. Your dad is with you now. You and Tom hook up with my dad, and save me a seat in the slopshoot, until I arrive in the big rifle range in the sky.

— Ernie Crowley, U.S.M.C. Semper Fi, Schmidt’s for Lunch Bunch — December 29, 2006

God Bless You and Thank You

Dear Tom: I worked with you, at the Rickshaw Inn, in ’65 & ’66. We used to get out of work, at 3:00 AM. One very cold, Sunday morning, one of our cars wouldn’t start and we had to jump the battery. I think, that you were driving a Cadillac. I quit shortly after and in the summer of ’66, my friend and I ran into you and your buddies, in Pennsauken (near Cove Road) late at night. We all had been drinking and I got the impression, that you were leaving town and you and your buddies were fired up and looking for a fight. My friend and I were likely targets, until you recognized me, from the Rickshaw. You were very friendly toward me and my friend and we wished each other well as we parted. That was the last time, that I saw you and I remember you well. It was, years later before I knew that you were lost in Vietnam and I am very sorry and I thank you, for your sacrifice.

— Joe McKim, worked with Tom in 1965 — November 23, 2006

Dedication and Sacrifice

For Lance Corporal Busch and all those who knew him and loved him, I just want to say thank you, for your dedication and sacrifice! Please know, that you have not been forgotten and always will hold a special place in my heart! It would have been nice to have known you as a person and I greatly appreciate your service! I just wish you did not have to pay so high a price! You forever will be a hero in my eyes!

— Kimberly Kimmel-Ober — February 11, 2002

Keep Them Squared Away

Tommy, we all miss you, we talk of you every time we get together. Now that Big Tom is with you, you two can start a new SFLB, make sure you put one aside for me, no set date but I am sure we will be reunited as Marines once again. So get the Platoon ready for me and keep them squared away until I get there. Semper Fi.

— Randy “Topsarge” Maute, Schmidt’s For Lunch Bunch (SFLB) — May 13, 2004

Father’s Hero

I remember us playing cowboys and Indians, you always made me wear the hat with the arrow through it and you were the Indian who shot me. We used to see who could climb the highest up the maple tree, then we’d get yelled at for being up there! I remember a lot about us growing up. We sure had fun. You turned out to be one of God’s greatest men. Your father is forever proud, it’s an honor for him to say you are his son. See you again someday Tommy. Love your cousin,

— Donna Shaffer — April 10, 2002

A Letter From His Mother

Dear Son, I love you and miss you, but I will always remember the good times we had. Like some of the tricks you played on me! The one where you put wax on your hand and I thought you’d burnt yourself. And when you’d be going out I’d say “be home by midnight” and you would hit the side of the door, point your finger at me and say “and you woman, be in when the street lights go on!” I’d get up and you would run out the door. Then there was the time you let Johnny Bell shoot your big bow and arrow — he shot it in the air and it came down right through the roof of your car. That wasn’t so funny, but I do think about it a lot. There are so many things but it’s all over now. Still I think of you and love you always. Love,

— Mom (Mildred Busch) — August 5, 2002

Brother I Miss You So Much

Dearest brother, I miss you more than you know, all the things mom, Jayne, and Donna wrote I remember as if it were yesterday. I looked up to you when we were kids, though I never told you. Maybe because we fought all the time, typical siblings, but you would never let anything happen to me. I remember you and Junior would always hit me up for money. Well you would make Junior ask, you knew I would give it to you as I was saying no. It’s been 32 years now since you left, I’ll be with you and pop someday and we’ll have to argue just for old time’s sake. Please watch over your family, your nieces and nephews love you, even my son Stephen, says he loves you and misses you, even though he is only five. Is there any Schmidt’s up there? Keep a cold one for me.

— Ernest Busch — November 15, 2002

Rest Well

Rest well, God bless your family.

— Mark Kapinos — February 10, 2003

My Uncle

Uncle Tommy, I never got to meet you, but I hear so much about you from my mom (Jayne) or just the family talking about you. I wish I could have met you and got to know you. Sometimes, me and Tommy would talk about you. I miss you and love you. Please, watch over all of us. Tell pop, I said hi and I miss him and love him, so much.

— Lauranne Capoccetta, niece — January 30, 2006