Born in March 11, 1922 in New York. Served with the 60th Combat Engineers and was KIA crossing the Moselle River in September 1944. Siler War Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Thomas J. J. Downing (ASN: 32806806), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 60th Engineer Combat Battalion, 35th Infantry Division, in action in the **** River Sector, near ****, France, 10 September 1944. When his unit was forced to withdraw across a bridge from which it was then removing enemy demolition charges, Corporal Downing discovered that part of his squad, of which he was assistant squad leader, remained on the hostile shore. With complete disregard for personal safety, and despite the intense concentrations of enemy fire upon the bridge, Corporal Downing crossed the bridge to the enemy shore and led his squad back to safety, although while he was engaged, he was mortally wounded. Corporal Downing’s courageous action constitutes such gallantry in action as to reflect credit upon his character as a soldier, and is in accord with the military traditions of the United States.