Thomas Groll’s private purchased MAC V SOG plaque. The award has a brass presentation plate that reads: SSG THOMAS M. GROLL, 71 VIETNAM 72. WAR IS AN UGLY THING, BUT NOT THE UGLIEST OF THINGS: THE DECAYED AND DEGRADED STATE OF MORAL AND PATRIOTIC FEELINGS WHICH THINKS NOTHING IS WORTH WAR IS MUCH WORST. A MAN WHO HAS NOTHING FOR WHICH HE IS WILLING TO FIGHT, NOTHING HE CARES ABOUT MORE THAN HIS OWN PERSONAL SAFETY: IS A MISERABLE CREATURE WHO HAS NO CHANCE OF BEING FREE, UNLESS MADE AND KEPT BY THE EXERTIONS OF BETTER MEN THAT HIMSELF.
Thomas M. Groll served two tours in Vietnam. His first tour was in 1967 with the 101st Airborne Division until he was Wounded In Action (WIA). He returned for a second tour in 1971 with Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MAC V SOG), Task Force 2 Advisory Element (TF2AE / CCC), Recon Company assigned to Recon Teams Minnesota, New Mexico and New York.
Staff Sergeant (E-6) Groll processed out of the Army in March 1974 after 6 years 3 months service.