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Tom
Armas (full story)
By: Rich Perillo
“Tom Armas is a Special Agent in the Secret Service. On September 11th,
after helping to evacuate the Agency's New York Field Office at Seven
World Trade Center, he proceeded into the damaged North Tower and up the
stairwell to the 40th floor, where he worked to help the seriously
wounded.
“After being turned back by raging fire, he continued his efforts in the
North Tower lobby, and then on the street. Eventually, Tom was forced to
evacuate the area because of thick smoke and, of course, falling debris.
Yet, even while leaving, he continued to help others. In the midst of
chaos, he was a calm and steady soldier, at one point carrying a woman
to the safety of a nearby emergency vehicle.
“You see, this is the meaning of public service, as you all have shown
the American people. A willingness to go the limit, and then some more,
for the sake of your fellow citizens. Tom, thank you very much for your
service to the country.”
-- President Bush during a speech to Federal Employees on Homeland
Security on July 10, 2002, at DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C.
The word hero may be one of the most misused, and overused, words in the
English language. Often times we refer to an athletic performance as
heroic when in reality it’s just a game.
Does it take bravery, courage and strength of character to play
football? Yes it does, but that doesn’t make football heroic.
Tom Armas played football at Northeastern, but that’s not why he is a
hero. By definition a hero is somebody who commits an act of remarkable
bravery or who has shown great courage, strength of character, or
another admirable quality.
On September 11, 2001, with total disregard for his own life, Armas
helped save the lives of others who needed help getting out of 7 World
Trade, the last building to fall that day.
At the time of the terrorist attacks, Armas was working for the Secret
Service as a member of the Nigerian Organized Crime Task Force and was a
reservist for the Marines.
For his actions that day Armas was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps
Medal, their highest peace-time award. It is the same award that JFK
received for his actions aboard PT 109.
After graduating form Northeastern in 1992, Armas enlisted in the
Marines and was commissioned in 1994 as an Infantry Officer. He spent
four more years in the corps and was promoted to Captain shortly before
he was discharged to begin his Secret Service career, while remaining a
reservist for the corps.
In light of the events on 9/11, Armas pestered the Marines to be
activated. After being singled out by President Bush for his selfless
acts on that horrible morning, Armas was stunned and to this day doesn’t
think the full magnitude of this compliment has fully hit him.
“It was an incredible honor, it was indescribable,” said Armas, who was
on leave between his two tours of duty in Iraq at the time of the
President’s speech. “It’s surreal when the President asks you to stand
and he talks about you.”
Though he was still a reservist, he was considered an Inactive Ready
Reservist and wasn’t scheduled to be called to active duty, but the
military made an exception in June 2004 because of his determination to
serve his country in the war in Iraq. “I was not supposed to be
activated, but I pushed pretty hard,” he said.
While he saw combat action, his main duties were with the Joint
Interagency Coordinator Group. This group helps civilian entities
integrate with the military.
“Sometimes law agencies want to do something or the military wants them
to do something they can’t do so I help them figure out how to make both
understand the capabilities of the other and help accomplish what they
want,” Armas said. “I help make everyone understand what each group can
do.” While in Iraq he was again promoted, this time to Major.
Armas was raised in Rye, N.Y., the oldest of six children. His father
was a New York City police officer. He originally went to Pace
University and played football and baseball, but the Division III school
did not offer him everything he wished for.
“I wanted to play at the highest, best level I was capable of and I also
wanted to go to a big city,” he said. “I also think Northeastern has the
best criminal justice program in the country.”
In 1989 he walked onto Paul Pawlak’s football team as a strong safety
and earned letters as a strong safety in 1991 and 1992. He also met his
future wife, Danielle, who graduated in 1994 with a degree in physical
therapy while at NU. They live in Fairfield, Conn., and have two sons
(Austin, 10, and Thomas, 8) and a daughter (Brooke, 4). Since returning
from Iraq, Armas has been assigned to the William Clinton Division,
which is responsible for the safety of the former President. Most
details of the group are classified, but Armas did say they are
responsible for President Clinton’s safety 24 hours a day no matter
where he goes, even overseas.
“It takes about seven days to prepare to take trip to a foreign country.
We conduct our advance reconnaissance and we form a liaison with local
authorities through the State Department,” he explained.
For his part, Armas believes his Northeastern experience has a lot to do
with the man he is today and is very proud of the strides the school has
made academically over the last decade, but feels there is more work to
be done. “I think the school needs to bring athletics up to meet the
academic gains to help Northeastern to become a top 100 school.”
Though he doesn’t have the time to be as involved with the football
program as he would like, Armas has made time to help when he can. “Last
year Coach Hager asked me to speak to the team before Veterans Day and I
was thrilled to do it, he said. “I wish I could be more involved but
with my schedule I can only do so much.”
No matter which side your political views lie – republican or democrat,
conservative or liberal – we should all agree on one thing: Tom Armas
represents every principle this country was founded upon. He volunteered
– more accurately insisted – to fight for the United States.
So the next time you hear the word hero used in the context of sports,
think of true heroes like Tom Armas instead.
Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S.
Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps, distinguishes himself/herself by heroism
not involving actual conflict with the enemy. For acts of life- saving,
or attempted lifesaving, it is required that the action be performed at
the risk of one's own life.
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