Thomas J. Sullivan

• Gunnery Sergeant
• Served:  September 1997 – July 16, 2015 Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine
• Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve
• Korean War, Iraqi War, Global War on Terrorism
• Awarded: Good Conduct Medal (4), Purple Heart (2), Combat Action Ribbon (1), Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal (1), Korean Defense Service Medal (1), Recruiting Ribbon (1), Iraq Campaign Medal (2), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (5), Armed Forces Service Medal (1), Humanitarian Service Medal (1), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (1), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (1) and the National Defense Service Medal (1).

Deceased July 16, 2015. Interred July 27, 2015 at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Agawan, Massachusetts.

Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan, 40, gave his life while defending his country on Thursday July 16, 2015 during an attack on a Naval Reserve Center in Chattanooga, TN. He was one of four Marines and one Sailor who were killed. See Carson Holmquist, David A. Wyatt, Squire D. (Skip) Wells and Randall Smith.

Tommy was born in Springfield, MA on March 22, 1975 to Jeremiah “Jerry” and Mary “Betty” (Vecchiarelli) Sullivan. He grew up in the East Forest Park section of Springfield and attended Holy Cross School, graduated from Cathedral High School in 1994 and had his confirmation at Boston College. Tommy received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and was working on his Master’s. Gunnery Sgt. Sullivan proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. His present duty was Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve.

Tommy loved being a Marine and was a huge fan of the Dropkick Murphys. But most of all, he loved being an uncle to his nephew and 3 nieces. Besides his parents Jerry and Betty of Hampden, he leaves his maternal grandmother Mary Vecchiarelli , whom he would often text and call, his brother Joseph “Joe” Sullivan of Hampden, his sister Dianne Sullivan Caron and her husband John of Wilbraham, his beloved nephew and nieces; Connor Hendrix, Chloe Sullivan, Nikki Caron and Mary Kate Caron, his uncle Patrick Sullivan and his family and his aunt Dianne Mullin and her husband Mark and their family.