Schoales, Thomas

Thomas Schoales, Eng.4 Thomas Gerard Schoales Firefighter Fire Department City of New York New York Age: 27 Year of Death: 2001 Thomas was a loving son‚ brother‚ uncle and friend. He was intelligent and very athletic. He loved all sports and excelled in baseball and basketball. Tommy spent three years with the NYPD (52nd Precinct) before transferring to the FDNY. Tommy was set to follow in his father’s footsteps and rise through the ranks in the FDNY. Tommy’s father has spent 34 years with the FDNY and now holds rank of Battalion Chief. Though Tommy’s Dad was a Battalion Chief‚ he never used that to get preferential treatment. He‚ through his aggressive actions‚ let his fellow firefighters know he was there to work and pay his dues. On Tommy’s graduation day from the fire academy‚ his father gave him this piece of advice‚ ‘You get the uniform for free‚ but it comes with a history‚ so do the right thing when you’re in it.’ Tommy took this advice to heart. Whether in or out of uniform‚ you could always count on Tommy to do the right thing. Tommy lived as heroically and nobly as he died. Tommy is a true American hero.