Cadet Surdyke and his mother, Janice, at West Point
in August 2015 (Family photo)
WEST POINT – Cadet Thomas Surdyke would have been 19 years old
on July 4, but instead he was laid to rest at West Point Cemetery on his
birthday.
Surdyke, who was entering his sophomore year at the US Military Academy
died on June 30 after attempting to save another cadet caught in a riptide
off Long Island says before.
“Throughout his time here at the Military Academy, Cadet Surdyke
epitomized the values of Duty, Honor, Country in all that he did,”
said West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, Jr. “Tom
was an exemplary cadet and hard worker, who achieved the dean’s
list both semesters of his plebe year.”
Surdyke was a Defense and Strategic Studies major.
He attended St. Pius X High School in Festus, Missouri.
His mother, Janice Laiben Surdyke wrote on her Facebook pace there will
be a Memorial Mass at Our Lady Church in Festus sometime the week of July
11.
She posted that her son wrote on his admissions essay to West Point: “I
want to dedicate my life to serve and protect those who are not able to
do so for themselves. A career in the military is not only something I
desire, it is something I truly feel called to do.”
His mother said the family’s decision to lay Thomas to rest at West
Point “is based upon these beliefs. Thomas deserves a hero’s resting
place.”
