Tom Madison

Thomas Mack Madison was born April 2, 1929 in Dallas, Texas to Dee C. and Ophelia Madison. He attended Anderson High School and Samuel Huston College, now Huston-Tillotson University. He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in chemistry from Tuskegee Institute and a Master of Business Administration degree from Arizona State University. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program on November 25, 1952, and went on active duty on January 1, 1953. He earned his pilot's wings in 1954, and served in various piloting capacities until 1967. He initially flew cargo planes and then advanced to tactical jet fighter aircraft. He flew the F-105F "Wild Weasel" with the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from February 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on April 19, 1967. After spending 2,147 days in captivity, he was released during Operation Homecoming on Ma