A Texoma couple are being recognized for their contributions to the community both before and after military service. During a ceremony Friday afternoon, U.S. Army Sgt. Tom Ailshire was recognized as the Texoma Hero for the month of October.
For 10 years, Texoma Hero, in connection with HOT 107.3 FM, has recognized veterans of all branches of the armed forces for their contributions both in military service and within their home communities.
Following Friday’s award, Tom’s wife, Melida Ailshire was recognized as a honorary Texoma Hero for her long history of community involvement and service to the community.
“Some people will tell me — and this is very common whenever I get in touch with someone and say we’d like to recognize you for Texoma Hero,” Teague said. “I will get the same response: I am not a hero. The heroes are the men and women that didn’t come home or they came home disabled.”
Thomas Ailshire was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1966 and moved to Sherman as a teenager. He graduated from Sherman High School in 1984 and attended Grayson College before enlisting in the US Army in 1986 as military police.
Ailshire would go on to do his basic combat training and advanced individual training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. From there, he received orders to the 534th Military Police Company in Fort Clayton, Panama. It was during this deployment that he met his future wife, Melida.
During his career, Thomas Ailshire would serve as a security agent for Deputy CINC United States Southern Command Lieutenant General Eugene Fischer and Command General John Garvin, among other roles.
Following Panama, Thomas Ailshire served at posts in Fort Hood and Germany, among others. His work at Fort Hood included service in the Virgin Islands following Hurricane Hugo and the U.S. Invasion of Panama to oust dictator Manuel Noriega.
“I am very humbled. It has been a wonderful experience, and I just can’t thank everybody enough for coming out,” he said. “So many people deserve it so much more than me, but I am truly thankful.”
For her part, Melida Ailshire said she was proud to be recognized alongside her husband, who she described as a hero.
“To be honored alongside my husband was very special because he is a hero to me, and I know that he is a hero along with the many heroes that we have in this country, in the Texoma area,” she said.
