Zionsville residents focused on serving our country
By Dawn Pearson
Lt. Thomas L. Nicholson graduated from Zionsville Community High School in 2005 and flew straight into the U.S. Air Force Academy serving our country over the last five years.
But his love of flight began long before he graduated from the Academy in 2009. It’s in his blood too.
Tom soared into this world as part of a long line of military service people. Both his parents served in the U.S. Navy as well as his maternal grandparents and an uncle. His younger brother will follow him. And it was in the military where he met his wife.
“All four of our sons grew up hearing the family war stories and our family’s service to our country,” said Tom’s dad, Dr. James Nicholson. James is an orthodontist in Zionsville.
“It is what and who we are,” he said.
Tom and his three brothers, Tim, John and Ben, took those stories to heart, too.
“Tom and his brothers loved to play out in our woods, often playing war games. Anything outdoors and active was an attraction to all of them,” James said. “They all played football for Zionsville, too.”
Flying in his family’s footsteps
Tom’s parents met in the U.S. Navy and he met his wife while in training at the Academy, just like his parents met many years before.
On Feb. 18, 2013, Tom and his wife, Lt. Victoria E. Galli (Tory), were married in the Academy’s Cadet Chapel Colorado Springs, Colo. Both are 2009 graduates of the Academy.
Tom is a naval flight officer in the F-18 Super Hornet attached to VFA 154 Strike Fighter Squadron and is deployed on the USS Nimitz. He is stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station in Lemoore, Calif.
Tory is an air force pilot, who most recently flew with the sixth Air Refueling Squadron station at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif. She will be deployed to the United Arab Emirates in July.
“I met Tom’s mom, my wife, Margy in the Navy. We were both in programs that aided our education,” James said.
Margy served as a nurse from 1974 until 1979 attaining the rank of Lieutenant. She was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina.
Not only did Tom and his father meet their brides while in the service, they also shared common deployments in different decades.
“I served from 1976 until 1979 also attaining the rank of Lieutenant. I was stationed In Naples Italy and had temporary duty assignments on the USS La Salle in the Persian Gulf, and in Kenitra, Morocco,” James said. “In 1977, I transited the Suez Cannal as did Tom while aboard the USS Nimitz.”
“We also shared common sailings in the Persian Gulf, notably the Strait of Hormuz. Tom also had a Port visit in Naples, Italy; so indeed I relived a few experiences as Tom sailed the same waters,” James said.
Tiger Cruises for Families
And after a long deployment, hard work and service to our country, the Navy is host to family Tiger Cruises. This is a time when family members are allowed to board the ship. In Tom’s case, his family went aboard the USS Nimitz and spent several days at sea with their sailor.
“The Navy put on an air show, movie nights, tours, and we got to see the different features, like the bridge, flight decks, got a flavor of the whole ship,” James said. “It was in Pearl Harbor in San Diego for a six day transit.”
According to James, the carrier is “massive.”
“It’s 1,000 feet long. The flight deck is four or five acres. There are approximately 60 combat aircraft on ship. The hanger bay is 700 feet by 100 and 25 feet high. It’s cavernous,” James said. “It’s a huge ship with 4,000 embarked personnel on it.”
They Call Him Gizmo
Naval aviators almost always are known by their call sign. Gizmo is Tom’s call sign.
An aviator doesn’t get to choose their call sign; rather a squadron early in their career gives it. The origin of each call sign is usually related to some event in training or in social times with the squadron. Often it relates to some moment of indiscretion or humorous outcome.
Generations of the Nicholson/McCrea that have served our country.
Tom’s Grandfather — Sergeant Thomas P. McCrea 94th Infantry Division Notable Decorations Purple Heart, Bronze Star
Tom’s Grandmother– Cadet Nurse Lois Jean McCrea WW II ended before she entered service
Tom’s Father – James Nicholson a dentist and graduated from the Academy
Tom’s Mother – Margaret McCrea Nicholson was a nurse and graduated from the Academy
Tom’s Uncle Lloyd Nicholson served 27 years in the U.S. Navy attaining the highest enlisted rank of Master Chief Petty Officer
Tom’s parents Jim and Margy met at the Academy as well as Tom and his wife
Tom’s Brother — Ben ZCHS 2012 is currently in his second year at the US Air Force Academy. He received his nomination for admission from Rep. Todd Rokita
Tom graduated from the Academy in 2009 and received his admission nomination from Steve Buyer, who personally called him to tell him.
