Lt. T. Richard Cuffe Biography-1
Capt. Richard Cuffe Biography-1
Captain T. Richard Cuffe (1945 - 2022) -- 1967 Waltham Precision
Vietnam - 1st Infantry Division Intelligence Officer
Richard Cuffe was an outstanding soldier, father, lawyer, and community leader, and served his country as an intelligence officer with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. Growing up in Lynn, Massachusetts, he attended Providence College and joined ROTC as freshman. During his sophomore year, Cadet Cpl. Cuffe served as a Company 1st Sergeant in the 535-man college brigade. He was also a member of the Pershing Rifles and the National Military Honor Society.
Upon his 1967 graduation, Richard was presented a 10kt gold Gruen wristwatch by his local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, engraved,
“V.F.W. ~ Award 67 ~T. R. Cuffe Jr.”
Richard was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1967, and received both Ranger and Airborne training. He served five years in the Army, including one year with the "Big Red One" in Vietnam.
He earned his commission as a Captain at Lai Kei, Vietnam in July 1969, and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal.
Richard earned a law degree in 1975, and began his legal career in his Lynn hometown. As a community leader, he was actively involved in many organizations, including the Rotary and Boys Club. Richard died on February 21, 2022. As noted in his obituary, "He had countless friends for whom he always had an infectious smile. In any gathering of 75-watt bulbs, he was reliably a 150-watt.”
Richard's watch was returned to his wife Susan and son Chris in October 2026.
Pvt. Paul R. Thomer Biography-1
Paul Thomer's Watch Returned to His Family - Sept 2023
On Sept 9, 2023, Pvt. Thomer’s watch was returned to his daughter Deborah and her four siblings, exactly 80 years after Paul purchased it. They will treasure it as a tangible memory of their courageous Dad. Semper Fi.
Pvt. Paul Thomer -- 1942 Guadalcanal Marine & His Watch
Private Paul R. Thomer (1923–1992) fought at Guadalcanal as a member of the famed 1st Marine Division. Paul was from Pittsburgh PA, and enlisted in the Marines in January 1942.
The 1st Marine Division sailed from San Francisco in June, and landed on the island of Guadalcanal on Aug 7, 1942. This was the first major US amphibious landing of World War II. The invasion ignited a ferocious struggle with Japanese forces, marked by seven major naval battles, numerous clashes ashore, and almost continuous air combat through December 1942.
The fighting at Guadalcanal took a terrible toll; the 1st Division suffered 650 killed in action and 1,278 wounded, with a further 8,580 contracting malaria and other diseases. As one Marine recalled, ”the Division suffered 100% casualties, with the dead, wounded, and those sick from malaria, dengue fever, jungle rot, malnutrition and combat fatigue… “.
Battle-weary and in poor health following the Guadalcanal campaign, the men of the First Marine Division were shipped to Melbourne Australia for nine months recuperation in January 1943. “They were greeted with warm hospitality; these 15,000 young American men found a home away from home”.
On Feb 10, 1943, Paul Thome purchased a steel-cased wristwatch from a local Melbourne jewelry store, and had it engraved “Paul R. Thomer ~ U.S.M.C. ~ 343824 ~ Australia ~ 2-10-43”.
The 1st Division returned to combat in the South Pacific in October 1943, leading the December offensive at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. “The action they found there has been described as the toughest man has ever endured.” In July 1944, the 1st Division returned to the US for stateside duty. Paul was honorably discharged in 1945.
In 1954, Paul married Frances Mary LaRoche in Pittsburgh; in 1962, they moved to California. Paul and Frances had five children – two sons and three daughters. Paul died on February 16, 1992, and is buried with Frances in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, CA.