Many days spent together at sea, many stories shared over a cribbage board. Good times with a good friend. I remember TJ DePalma, a friend, and mentor.
USS Oklahoma City CLG-5  (73-75). 

A great shipmate and friend.  Not only to me but to all who came in touch with you.  You have a wonderful legacy and we all miss you very much.  Fair winds and following seas.

To our friend and next door neighbor,  we will miss you.  A better neighbor we could not have ask for.
Ronnie & Sarah Drummond

To TJ, my friend and mentor, you will be missed but never forgotten a little bit of you lives in hundreds of Gunner's Mates. Fair winds and following seas my brother.

The people that we meet on our journey, are people that we are destined to meet. Everybody comes into our lives for some reason or another and we don't always know their purpose until it is too late. They all play some kind of role. Some may stay for a lifetime; others may only stay for a short while.

It is often the people who stay for only a short time that ends up making a lasting impression not only in our lives, but in our hearts as well. Although we may not realize it at the time, they will make a difference and change our lives in a way we never could imagine. To think that one person can have such a profound effect on your life forever is truly a blessing. It is because of these encounters that we learn some of life's best lessons and sometimes we even learn a little bit about ourselves. 

Memories are priceless treasures that we can cherish forever in our hearts. They also enables us to continue on with our journey for whatever life has in store for us. Sometimes all it takes is one special person to help us look inside ourselves and find a whole different person that we never knew existed. Our eyes are suddenly opened to a world we never knew existed- a world where time is so precious and moments never seem to last long enough.

People will come and go into our lives quickly, but sometimes we are lucky to meet that one special person that will stay in our hearts forever no matter what. The lessons that we have learned from them and the experiences that we have gained from meeting that person, will stay with us forever.

TJ, you were one of those people.

TJ, You were a good friend for many years and you will be greatly missed.
Doug Buer (SRF-JRMC Yokosuka Japan)

To my special friend, I'm truly lucky to have known you all these years. You will be missed by many. You were like a big brother to me and I thank you for everything!! Rest in peace.

From Ship Repair Facility Yokosuka and Japan Regional Maintenance Center; Sympathies have been forwarded from:

Mr. Thomas Cairney, C/190
Saito San, C/192
Kumagaya San, C/192
Kanno San, C/192
Kato Yayoi San, C/194
Imai San, C/190
Suzuki San, C/190
Iwase San, C/910E
Oomika San, X-36F
Mr. Greg Allen, C/194B
Mr. Doug Buer, C/191
Mr. Harry Robinson, C/194A
Mr. Karl Atkinson, C/191
Mr. Sean Fitzpatrick, AIRPAC
Mr. David Lauer, C/191
Mr. Y. Munoz, C/192

Deepest sympathy from Joe Yuzuru Hokama. I pray for your happiness in the other world.

TJ, You were such a inspiration to every young GM in Yokosuka oh so many years ago.  You have been taken far too soon, Keep the Powder Dry Gunner....
John Easton GMC USN

TJ, You were the first Shipmate to welcome me aboard the USS Towers. Naked from the waist up; wearing nothing but faded seafarer bell bottoms and a white hat. A grease gun in one hand and a rag in the other, you were caring for your Mount 51. 
Shipmate, you left us much too soon. I had so many more questions to ask you. And Neptune himself only knows how many sea stories I have left.

TJ, over the years past we had many good and bad moments together. But the best moment of all was knowing you.  Fair winds and following seas shipmate.
Charlie Knowlton, GMCS, US Navy (Ret.)

TJ, You touched many people during your life and we're all better for having known you.  Rest your oars shipmate, we have the watch.

OBITUARY

Thomas Joseph "T.J." De Palma

24 July, 1950 – 28 March, 2013

Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home

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