Tunnel Rat aka Tom McNaughton has passed away (Discussion)

[AlanM]

I remember talking to Tom at this picnic.
RIP Tom. You will be remembered.

[Brian D.]

I first met Tom a long time back: Decided to take a road trip to the first ever (best I recollect) OFCC regional meet up that our members ever put together. It was held in Toledo at the Frisch's on Secor Road. We had been seated in a separate area and folks drifted in and just sort of found each other due to being dressed similarly or however it is that CHL'ers seem to be able to recognize each other. (I understand that concept WAY better now, than back at the time of this soiree.)

Anyhow, a smaller statured, well dressed, very quiet older gent came and sat in "our" section but stayed off by himself. Somehow I just KNEW he was wanting to join us, so I walked over, offered my hand, gave my name, and asked if he wasn't looking to hang out with the other "heeled" folks. He shook my hand and immediately joined us. As Tom explained to me later he was just getting a feel for what we were saying and how we were acting before coming over. In retrospect I've come to better understand that as being an important part of situational awareness, and "reading the room" also means reading the people IN the room.

After that night, he was always about the first person to welcome any and all newbies who came to the shindigs held from then on forward. And if I'd had to pick a guy for that job, it sure would have been Tom.

Like others here he would send me the occasional PM rebuking me for dropping a bit of PG-13 or R-rated language here on the forums. He believed that we shouldn't post things on here that we'd be ashamed to have our kids or grandmothers read. I will say he gave me some latitude if I was picking on let's say ODOT or an elected city/state official who was crossing the line with regards to improving gun rights. But not TOO much latitude.

Tom, thanks for all you did for our cause. And keeping me from veering too (dang) far off the straight and narrow.

And thanks for starting this thread, gang, I wanted to do it but was on the road the last few hours.

[LegoGlock]

RIP Tom.

[Mr. Glock]

Like Alan, I met Tom at that particular PITP too. And I ribbed him a bit about being a small one here and there on the forum. Good guy, will be missed.

[Cruiser]

From stories I heard about "Tunnel Rats" a .45 was all they took with them in the tunnels! R.I.P. Tom.

[Morne]

Words don't seem sufficient but I'll try.

He was superb. I hope that when I go the people who I regularly rebuked will miss me as much as I miss him. He was a fine example of a man.

[NavyChief]

Copied both my TunnelRat stories over to this thread:

My favorite TunnelRat story...

Like many - if not most - combat vet’s Tom never went into a lot of detail about his time in-country. Nonetheless, he did allow as all of his time was spent far, far to the north of that little divided republic. At one point he and his platoon were getting what for them was practically R&R at an FOB. Some REMF ran into the young Captain and commented that was the furthest forward he’d been. Tom (and I can almost hear his booming voice) replied, “Really sir? This is furthest to the rear I’ve been…”

Another TunnelRat story...

Four years ago at the Rochester Fun 'n' Gun he bought a Glock G20 off me. In anticipation of said deal, he'd brought a lot of 10mm "range stuff" along with a few boxes of DoubleTap. Now those that have shot at Rochester know the stages are pretty much right next to each other (no ¼-mile trek between 'em like at TDI) and Tom happened to be on the squad adjacent to mine.

So there we were later in the day, hearing "Bang. Bangbang. Bang." Some "Powpowpow. Pow." Even the occasional "Pewpewpew." I guess Tom ran out of the "range stuff," 'cause suddenly from the stage next to us we hear, "BOOM! BOOMBOOM!! BOOM!" The whole range went quiet for a few seconds...


May you now have rest Tom, from the faces you once told me you saw every night.

[wkdravenna]

My neighborhood will have one less hero here, a very rare person around here.

I do believe I had said hello to him at a few gatherings. I obviously have interacted with him here on the form. Always seemed very fair and reasonable.

There are no words, I hope that he will indeed find a permanent peace.

[sd790]

I sold him a Stevens shotgun a while back. He was a very friendly and gracious person to meet and I was very impressed by him. I am truly sorry to hear that he has passed. Rest in peace.

[muxtech]

This forum has always been a great place to get to know some fine people and like-minded fellow Ohioans. When I first "met" Tunnel Rat here in the forums you could tell that he was someone you would like to know. We met in-person at an open carry walk in the Toledo area years ago. The whole bunch of us wound up at a restaurant where I had the pleasure of having breakfast with Pops Fun and PGWP. I made it a point to meet Tom that day and say hello. He's the real deal. He added a certain intangible authenticity to a gun guy forum. He has probably the coolest avatar at OFCC of all time.

Another time, I was spoken to as well, regarding the appropriate use of exclamations in the forum. I never did it again.

I would have liked to know Tom better, but it sure was great to meet him a few times, and exchange thoughts with him here over the years. He was a great Ohioan and will be remembered by all of us who had the pleasure to know him. I can only imagine him shaking hands with Jeff Kirchner, coupe66, and any other OFCC'ers in heaven who are pleased to meet him there.

[schmieg]

I didn't know Tom well, but I enjoyed the few conversations we had. Too many of my Viet Nam brothers are starting to go, but I guess we're getting to that time in life. He will be sorely missed.

[rainmaker]

Sad to hear this. It was awesome to have him as a part of our lives here. He will be greatly missed. May God comfort his family in their loss.

[TSiWRX]

I am very sorry to read of his passing. RIP.

I've never had the pleasure of interacting with him in-person, but based on the few words that were exchanged here, I definitely would have liked to at last have shaken his hand.

Godspeed.

ETA - his obit is epic. I could not help but smile. My cousin wrote/recited something similar for his father who passed away this past weekend, and if those few sentences reflected the jovial nature by which these two men spent their time here, I'm sure they're both chuckling upstairs.

[Muad]

Rest in peace brother.

I had the pleasure of meeting Tom a few years ago for a trade. He was very pleasant to deal with, and I enjoyed the short time we spent together when we met up.

I still have the item that I picked up from him.

Prayers out to his family and close friends.

[Double3]

Dealt with Tom a couple times, once online and the other we met up.

Very nice guy and a pleasure to deal with.

RIP Tom.