The Wagner American Legion Auxiliary Greer Unit #11 is proud to honor Tom Soukup as April’s Veteran of the Month. Soukup graduated from Marty High School in the spring of 1959 at 17 years of age. After graduating, Tom was faced with a big decision as his father offered to pay for his college education but with one stipulation: Tom could not farm. With a lifelong dream of being a farmer, Tom chose his passion of farming instead of college. In addition to farming, Tom decided to join the National Guard. In September of 1959, an enlisted Tom was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for basic training. There were four other local soldiers that left at the same time as Tom, including Larry Beeson, George Houska, Dennis Koupal, and Fred Koupal. Although they left at the same time, Tom was sent to a different company. After graduating from basic training on December 8, Tom was supposed to be trained as a water specialist at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington D.C., but instead had his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) changed to motor pool and was sent to the U.S. Army Transportation School at Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia. With this MOS, Tom learned mechanics and how to operate heavy construction equipment.

Being located in Virginia for his four months of training in 1960, Tom was able to see President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. After completing his training, Tom returned to South Dakota to farm with his dad and brother. Both Tom and his brother were in the National Guards and a part of the 137 EN BN. The brothers were the first of their immediate family to be a part of the military. Tom attended summer camps in the Black Hills for the next six years. During his time in the National Guard, Tom received a medal for marksmanship. Even though it took longer to fulfill his military obligations, Tom was happy to be a part of the National Guard as he could serve and still farm. For Tom, the highlights of his military career were the summer camps. He enjoyed the comradery with fellow soldiers and playing cards in their downtime when they were not creating trail systems.

Tom attended Tabor Catholic School from an early age. He can remember that as a young boy he stayed the whole month at school riding the bus home to Wagner when he could. Eventually, local families began to carpool and Tom was able to be home every week. Tom attended the parochial school in Tabor until eighth grade, then attended Marty High School. Marty High School was set up like a trade school teaching trades at a technical college level, which allowed Tom to acquire many skills. In Tom’s later years (1980s) he would spend approximately 20 years getting his farm/ranch management degree from Mitchell VoTech as part of a program that the Wagner school board helped implement during the farm crisis of the 1980s.

In 1963, while taking part in a bowling team, Tom would meet his future wife, Linda DeWald, as she and one of her friends watched them bowl. Tom decided to ask Linda out and on their first date, the pair went to a dance in Tyndall and have been together ever since. After a year of dating, they married on October 17, 1964. The couple have four children: Rebecca, David, Kathlene, and Mary. They also have ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.

Tom has enjoyed hunting for pheasants and deer as well as ice fishing. Being a family man, he has enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and taking them on summer vacations. Tom has also been a very active member of the community as a part of Lawrence township for 27 years, church lector, lay minister, St. John’s Teaching Center Director, CCD teacher, Knights of Columbus member for over 50 years, and Wagner American Legion member for 15 years.

Thank you, Tom, for your service and for being April’s Veteran of the Month.