<p>
<em>Thomas R. Horton</em> left us sometime in 1943. He was in the Philippines, where he fought the Japs and where he was captured finally in the late Spring of 1942.</p>
<p>
Tommy was born in 1903. Tommy knew the Army as a youth. His father was an officer in the United States Army Medical Corps. Tommy’s early association and desire for service led him to West Point. He entered and graduated from the Academy in the Class of 1926.</p>
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Tommy was an athlete. He was a star pole vaulter at the Academy. He continued with athletics upon graduation as a football coach, a horse show rider, and polo player. He was still playing polo just prior to the Jap attack in 1941.</p>
<p>
Tommy started out on his military career in the Infantry. He loved horses and duty found him with the mounted units of the Infantry generally. Tommy met Rilla Gardner in 1931 while serving with the 11th Infantry at Fort Knox. They were married in 1932, and made their first home at Fort Harrison, the winter station of the 11th. Tommy and Rilla loved, and were loved by all.</p>
<p>
Tommy decided to take a detail in the Quartermaster Corps in 1937. He and Rilla came to Fort Benning that year. Tommy’s first job in the Quartermaster Corps was the management and operation of the Fort Benning Railroad. He did this job, in addition to many other sundry quartermaster functions, in his usual intent, conscientious, and efficient manner. Tommy had always thought that he did not have enough to do in peacetime in the Infantry. His new detail in the Quartermaster Corps provided a ready means for the exploitation of his vast energy.</p>
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Tommy continued with his sports at Benning. He was on the Freebooters polo team, a member of the Infantry School Hunt, and took part in the many garrison horse shows.</p>
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Tommy and Rilla established many close friendships while at Fort Benning. The desire to continue with these friends caused Tommy and Rilla to volunteer for Philippine service in 1940 in order that the group might remain together. A gay and happy group left Benning in 1940 for the Philippines. Tommy and Rilla and their friends rode and played together at Benning and they rode and played together in the Philippines for a short time. The wives were ordered home in 1941 when war appeared to be imminent. Tommy and the men stayed on.</p>
<p>
Tommy was Quartermaster for the Post of Manila prior to the Jap attack. Tommy immediately volunteered for combat duty when war was declared. His request was granted and he and a group of officers from the headquarters formed a provisional Cavalry squadron from the men and polo ponies at the stables at Nichols Field. He rode with Strickler and fought the Jap in the delaying action that ended, finally, on Bataan.</p>
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We do not know the details of Bataan, but we know that it was a heroic stand and that Tommy was there. We know what Tommy would do in a game or in a war. Play it hard.</p>
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Tommy is survived by his wife, Rilla Horton, of Versailles, Kentucky.</p>
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Tommy’s life gave us friendship and happiness. His death gives us strength.</p>
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