Editor’s note: This story is the second in a five-part series highlighting five ISU veterans who are being inducted into the Gold Star Hall war memorial on Nov. 12.

A close friend remembers Sgt. Thomas Carrington, Vietnam veteran and former civil engineering student at Iowa State, as a friendly, sometimes-mischievous young man who sacrificed his life for his country.

“[Tom] liked to have a good time,” said Steve Fredericksen, ISU alumnus, fellow soldier, and friend of Carrington’s.

Carrington’s name will soon be added to the list of veterans’ names in the wall of the Gold Star Hall in the Memorial Union, along with the names of four other veterans from Iowa State.

The engravings should be finished in time for a dedication ceremony on Nov. 12 in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union, said Kathy Svec, marketing director of the Memorial Union.

Fredericksen attended Iowa State with Carrington from fall 1966 to winter 1968, when they both left school in February, soon to be drafted and sent to Vietnam.

Fredericksen said he remembers Carrington teaching him – or trying to teach him – how to waterski, one of Carrington’s favorite hobbies.

He also remembers spying on the local Bible camp near Carrington’s parents’ lake cottage, among many other memories.

Iowa State left a unique mark on Carrington’s personality, Fredericksen said.

“[Tom] had turned into quite a ladies’ man,” he said. “I think the time in Ames did that to him.”

It would not be long, however, before the two friends would share memories of a more serious timbre. The two went through basic training together, as well as some advanced training.

They were sent to separate units in Vietnam, Fredericksen said, but they had similar timetables and were scheduled to come home at approximately the same time.

However, only seven days before Carrington was supposed to come home, at 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 12, 1969, a rocket, mortar and ground attack struck Carrington’s base, and he was killed.

Carrington was 20 years old.

Fredericksen went home Aug. 21, and upon his return found out about his friend’s death.

“It was just a hard thing to go through,” he said.

Fredericksen recently found out that Carrington’s name is to be placed in limestone in the Gold Star Hall. He said he feels good about it.

“Here’s a person who gave his life and never really got to live it, and this helps,” Fredericksen said. “I guess my only wish is that maybe it could have happened sooner, before his mom passed away.”

Svec said the names and information of soldiers who completed part of their ISU degree are more difficult to find than soldiers who graduated.

Carrington’s aunt and uncle contacted the Memorial Union in order to have his name added to the memorial. His mother, father and sister are deceased.

The names of ISU students who have died in the Iraq war are being added to a temporary, wooden plaque, where they will stay until the war ends.

At the war’s conclusion, these names will be added directly to the limestone wall, Svec said.

Marlene Mahoney, Carrington’s aunt, said she and the rest of his family found his death especially difficult because it came so close to the time when he was scheduled to return.

“We were all thinking, ‘well, he’s made it, and we’re going to get him home,'” Marlene said.

She said his willingness to serve his country, his sense of responsibility and hardworking, friendly nature are important things to remember about Carrington.

While Carrington was serving his country, Marlene said, he advanced quickly from private to sergeant and received a Battalion Soldier of the Month award, among other honors.

Marlene’s husband, Bob, said he thinks Carrington’s commitment to his education was another important part of his life.

“It wasn’t quite as common for a young person out of high school to go on to college [when Carrington did],” Bob said. “He strongly believed in himself.”