Mr. Tomlinson is a Vietnam Veteran and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. He retired from the U. S. Army in 1983 with the rank of Colonel. Mr. Tomlinson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism while searching for three Americans missing in action between January 15 and January 17, 1971. Although wounded in the initial encounter, he organized a defensive perimeter to await rescue. When the rescue helicopter was shot down by enemy forces, he moved his besieged team to another location. Using night tactics, he successfully avoided detection and the following day organized a successful extraction from the battle area. In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross, he was also awarded the Purple Heart Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He is currently a resident of Huntsville, Alabama.