Thomas DeWitt O'Hara

Thomas DeWitt O'Hara died on Sunday, September 18, 2016, at his home, sixty-five days short of his 69th birthday. A disabled veteran, Tom served his country as a member of the 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning), volunteering for two tours of combat duty as an artilleryman in the Republic of Vietnam from 1966 through 1968. Wounded in action in 1968, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, as well as other decorations. Dismissive of all chickenhawks, he considered compulsory military service to the United States of America as a duty and a privilege, a debt paid for honorable citizenship. Tom was a longtime donor to the ACLU, as well as the United Negro College Fund and the Southern Poverty Law Center. A lifetime St. Louis Cardinals fan, he had attended games in Sportsman's Park and both Busch Stadiums. He was a skilled and generous gardener and a member of the Mid-America Sport Parachute Club with nearly one thousand jumps before his recent illness. He is survived by his sister, Judith O'Hara of Malaga, Spain; brothers, Robert O'Hara of Springfield, IL, Patrick (wife, Mary Jane) O'Hara of Petersburg, IL, and Michael O'Hara of Springfield, IL; one nephew, eight nieces, and several great nephews and nieces. Tom was a prolific blood donor who always accommodated emergency requests for his rare blood type. He was a 1965 Griffin High School graduate and earned his B.S. at Eastern Illinois University in 1971. He retired from the US Postal Service after 23 years. For those who knew him, he was a very special, unique, extraordinary, and genuinely nice person. But he spoiled dogs. He will be missed. Short private memorial services at Camp Butler National Cemetery will be held.