Tenth Generation

8132. Thomas Lee Skillman was born on 16 January 1919 in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO. He received a B.S. in geophysics degree in 1940 at St. Louis Univ. in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO. His publications include Average daily variations in the magnetic field as observed by ATS-5 published by at Goddard Space Flight Center in Washington, DC in 1974. He was a geophysicist. Started working for General Geophysical of Houston TX on seismograph crew prospecting for oil in OH, LA, and TX. After WWII service, rejoined General Geophysical and worked in TX, WY, and MS. Went to work for U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey in Feb. 1946 at observatories in Hawaii, MD, Sitka, Alaska, Fredericksburg, VA. Joined NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 1958 and retired from govt. service May 1973. Thomas died on 21 March 1998 at the age of 79 in Sequim, WA. He served in the military surveyor WWII in U.S. Army Engineers. 43rd Engineer Regiment shipped out to Australia Jan 1942. Served in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines.

From National WWII Memorial:

ACTIVITY DURING WWII
PRIVATE WITH 43RD ENGINEERS, LANDED WITH FIRST TROOPS IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. SENT TO NEW GUINEA, RETURNED TO OFFICERS TRAINING IN AUSTRALIA. GRADUATED 1ST LIEUTENANT. MARRIED AUSTRALIAN GIRL, FIRST SON BORN IN AUSTRALIA. IN THE PHILIPPINES BEFORE RELEASE, HOME WITH FIRST TROOPS. HE WAS WITH MACARTHUR'S HEADQUARTERS AFTER OFFICERS TRAINING.

From his son, Thomas, Jr.: He was a surveyor in the Army Corps of Engineers and helped build airfields in Australia including one in Manbulloo.

Airfield picture in his file. He had Social Security Number 495-18-9192. Thomas was buried at Sequim View Cemetery in Sequim, WA.

Winnefred Nelva Cox (private).

Thomas Lee Skillman-11062 and Winnefred Nelva Cox-11063 had the following children: