Thomas Edward “Tom” Karstens was born November 19, 1946, in Owatonna, MN, the son of Bernice and Edward C. Karstens. Tom was the middle child of three, with an older sister, Elaine, and a younger sister, Marian. The family moved to the Seattle, WA suburb of Renton when Tom was an infant. Tom’s dad passed away when Tom was nine years old.
Early on the morning of July 1, 1965, Tom began his West Point journey. Tom was assigned to 8th New Cadet Company in East Barracks and would eventually spend four years in the “Lost Fifties” in the 53rd, 54th and 55th Divisions, first as a member of Company D-4, and then spend his cow and firstie years in the same area in the redesignated Company H-4.
Tall, handsome, good-natured, affable and easy going, Tom had a ready grin that lit up a room. Simply put, it was hard not to like Tom. With his ambling gait and laid-back attitude, this jovial, witty cadet was a true friend to all.
Tom had few problems adjusting to the rigors of cadet life. Classmates and upperclassmen alike recognized early on his calm, relaxed confidence, and he soon earned the respect of all. Tom quickly mastered the demands of the tactical department and, as a result, never spent an hour on the Area. Tom also quickly mastered the academic rigors of the Academy. Renton High School had prepared him well. In fact, his yearling year chemistry course used the same textbook that Tom had used in high school. Tom was particularly good in chemistry, physics, and other sciences. Tom was on the Dean’s List but not quite a star man. Those of us who owe Tom a debt of gratitude for tutoring us know that he would much rather help a classmate with an assignment than to improve his own grades. That was the kind of unselfish and caring friend that he was. Several of us are indebted to him for getting us through then Major Schwarzkopf’s Thermodynamics class.
Tom chose Field Artillery for his branch of service, and after graduation he attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, OK and Airborne and Ranger Schools at Fort Benning, GA. In March 1970 Tom was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Field Artillery in Germany and while there served as battery executive officer, battery commander, adjutant, and operations officer.
Fellow classmate and companymate John Luchak remembers running into Tom at the Army Finance Office in Nurnberg, West Germany. Both were there to pick up the monthly pay for their soldiers. In those days everyone was paid in cash, and the finance office had calculated the pay so that, if the unit pay officer paid each soldier in the minimum bills required, everything came out even. For most it was a nerve-racking challenge, but for Tom it was just another task to be successfully completed with a smile on his face and a calm confident attitude. John remembers that Tom was particularly upbeat as his tour in Europe was almost over, and he and his wife Patti were heading back to the States to spend some time with family before Tom shipped out to Korea. At his sister Marian’s wedding in August 1971, Tom had met his future wife, Patti, while on leave from Germany, and in April 1972 they were married in Patti’s hometown of Okanogan, WA. Tom and Patti returned to Germany to finish their tour and then came back to the States in November 1972.
Tom departed to Korea in January 1973 and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery in the 2nd Infantry Division, where he served as the battalion operations officer. On February 22, 1973, Tom and two other officers were on a routine flight when their helicopter crashed. The newspaper account at the time said that “Army Captain Thomas E. Karstens, 26, of Seattle, was one of three United States Army officers killed in a helicopter crash in Korea which also killed two Korean boys and injured four other persons on the ground. The Army said the cause of the crash had not been determined. The copter struck some trees, rolled into a ravine and caught fire. The two boys who were killed were playing in the area.”
Tom’s funeral service was held on March 5, 1973 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Seattle, and he was laid to rest in Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton. Tom was survived by his wife, Patti; his mother, Mrs. Bernice Karstens; and two sisters, Mrs. Elaine Gentry and Mrs. Marian Russ.
Tom’s untimely death deprived his wife, family and friends of a witty, bright, generous and talented husband, son, brother and friend. The Army lost a truly dedicated officer. Tom loved life and sincerely loved helping others to enjoy it. His positive, optimistic attitude helped make all those who knew him so much better for the experience. To have known Tom was to have been forever impacted by his kindness, generosity and sincere dedication to his country, his family, his classmates, and his many friends.
The last line of Tom’s yearbook entry in the Howitzer reads, “A true friend to all, his easy-going manner and mischievous grin will be remembered by all.” And so it will, dear friend, and so it will.
— Company H-4 Classmates, Family and Friends