Thomas Alan Dibenedetto was born on May 16, 1959 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut. He was a graduate of the E. O. Smith High School in Storrs and attended Thames Valley State Technical College in Norwich before joining the Marine Corps in April 1982, he served as a Corporal. He was sent to Beirut in June for what was to have been a six-month tour of duty. Thomas was killed in the terrorist bombing of the United States Marine barracks. In the early morning hours of 23 Oct. 1983, a truck loaded with explosives crashed through the security perimeter of the USMC Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. In the explosion that followed, 241 US Military personnel were killed and 80 serious wounded. He is now buried in the Storr's Cemetery (New), Storrs, Tolland County, Connecticut, USA.