Congresswoman Sánchez Names Cerritos Man “Veteran of the Month”

Earlier this week, Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-39) continued her veterans’ outreach program by recognizing Vietnam War veteran and Cerritos resident Tom Tislow as the 39th Congressional District’s “Veteran of the Month” for November.  

Tislow, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1966, received jungle warfare training in the Panama Canal area and was deployed to Vietnam in April 1967. He served with the 3rd Marine Division which conducted operations from helicopters aboard the USS Tripoli, and along with his fellow Marines were flown in for more than 20 operations throughout northern South Vietnam and the Demilitarized Zone, providing reinforcements to armed forces units for several weeks at a time. Tislow returned from Vietnam in May 1968 and was honorably discharged in January 1969 with the rank of sergeant. 

For his service and bravery, Tislow was awarded the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with Four Stars, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnam Police Action Medal, two Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry, National Defense Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. 

“Mr. Tislow’s military service is inspiring, as his medals and commendations illustrate, and it is an honor to recognize his service to our country,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “We owe Mr. Tislow a huge debt of gratitude for the sacrifice and bravery he showed during the Vietnam War.  It is my hope that someday we can give Vietnam veterans, like Mr. Tislow, the proper homecoming they deserved, but never received, by establishing an annual ‘National Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day'.” 

Sanchez again echoed these sentiments at Thursday night's Veterans Ceremony at Artesia Park, where Tislow spoke before a large crowd of veterans and community members, and later presented the table dedicated to America's Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action.

Tislow is an active member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1846 and the Friends of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, which supports the U.S. Marine Corps battalion at Camp Pendleton. He has also competed in marathons to raise money for various charities and organizations, including the Special Olympics, Semper Fi Fund, and the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion Memorial Fund.

- MarieSam Sanchez contributed to this report.