San Marcos — Houston native Tom Bambrick joined the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1942 so he could finish out the year of college at Northwestern Louisiana University in Natchitoches, La., where he had a football scholarship.
When the year was up, he failed the physical for the Navy Air Force because of his eyes so he went on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps.
After basic training in San Diego, he was assigned to Camp Lajune, N.C., and then went to officer candidate school at Quantico, Va, where he was commissioned as a Second lieutenant. Then it was on to Camp Pendleton, Calif., before being shipped overseas. He joined the 22nd Regiment of the Sixth Marine Division in Guam and then went to Okinawa in 1945.
After fighting in Okinawa, he was sent to North China for the Asiatic Theatre in the fall of 1945. Before they were sent to battle, the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan, and the war was, for all practical purposes, over.
First Lt. Bambrick was injured in a truck accident in North China in 1946, and, after spending five or six weeks in the hospital, he was shipped home to Houston. He stayed in the Marine Reserves and returned to Northwestern Louisiana University to complete his final year of college. He received his bachelor of science degree in physical education and mathematics in 1947. During his senior year, he was chosen for Who's Who Among Students at American Colleges and Universities.
With degree in hand, Tom was hired as the first athletic director and head football and track coach at Spring Branch High School in 1947 and thought his new career was underway.
In 1950, the Korean conflict was building, and he was recalled to active duty, returning to Quantico, Va. From there he expected to ship out to Korea, but, because of his old injuries, he was sent back home with the Marine Reserves. He spent the next four years as an ordinance inspector at the Dixon Gun Plant in Houston.
In 1954, Bambrick returned to coaching football and track and teaching math at Spring Branch High School where he stayed until accepting the athletic director's and head football coaching position at La Grange High School.
Tom and his wife of 66 years, Juanita, moved to San Marcos in 1965 where he became physical education teacher and intramural director at Gary Job Corps. In 1971, he was employed to manage the old Coca-Cola plant in San Marcos before becoming the distributive education coordinator at San Marcos High School where he retired in 1982.
During their years in San Marcos, Mrs. Bambrick was the office education coordinator at San Marcos High before teaching at what is now Texas State University where she retired in 1982.
Tom Bambrick is proud of his service to his country and of the awards and recognition his unit received. His unit received the Presidential Citation for Action on Okinawa and a Certificate of Recognition from the Secretary of Defense for service during the cold war.
Although Tom's failing eyesight and difficulty walking limit his activities these days, he and Juanita remain active at First Methodist Church.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Tom Bambrick
Bambrick served in the Pacific during World War II
- Local News
-
-
Massive crane lifts old theater from Spring Lake
Every job requires the proper tool. So it was on Thursday when the old Submarine Theater was finally lifted out of Spring Lake.
-
Teachers of the Year
-
Saturday Memorial Day ceremony to pay tribute
The public is invited to attend the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the San Marcos City Cemetery at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 26, sponsored by San Marcos American Legion Post 144.
-
Ruiz makes presentation about tax risks for boomers
Ruben Ruiz, local author and CEO of the Ruiz Financial Group, LLC and Money Concepts, recently presented at the National Group Conference, at the Fairmont Orchard Hotel on the big island of Kona, Hawaii.
-
HOT coming to Wimberley
The Heart of Texas (HOT) Chorus is coming to Wimberley for a free performance – and the public is invited.
-
2012 seniors to sweep San Marcos
The San Marcos High School seniors of the Class of 2012 will be out in force Saturday, cleaning up downtown, hoping that passers-by and local residents will donate $1 each to Project Graduation, the annual drug and alcohol free celebration for the senior class to celebrate their high school graduation.
-
Texas leading state for small business
In recognition of National Small Business Week, Texas Workforce Commissioner Tom Pauken shares some good news about our state’s positive climate for small businesses.
-
City plans park dedication in the name of San Marcos soldier killed in Afghanistan
The family of Capt. Paul Peña, the city of San Marcos, San Marcos Academy and representatives of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point will dedicate a park in honor of the fallen soldier at a special Memorial Weekend ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday.
-
Cemetario del Rio
- Burn ban off – for now
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
