Thomas Puglisi graduated from Hackensack High School in 1935. He did not attend college. Tom had been discharged from the N.J. National Guard. Tom and his brother knew they were both eligible to be drafted, so they traveled to Newark and signed up in the 286th M.M. Ordinance Co. Later on, Tom and his brother were attached to General Patton's 3rd U.S. Army Division. They were enlisted on
October 17, 1942.

Thomas, and his brother, Vincent Puglisi, received basic training at Fort Dix, N.J. and Fort Bragg, N.C. Thomas, his brother, and 175 other volunteers in their unit were together throughout the war. They went overseas on February 11, 1944. They landed in England and were stationed in West Derby, which is a suburb of Liverpool, in a huge Lord's Estate.

Tom and his brother had different duties. Thomas was in the small arms section.

They served in Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Their company did not engage in specific military battles. They always seemed to be stationed two or three miles behind enemy lines.

When the war ended, the brothers were stationed in Germany.

Thomas met Germaine after the fall of Metz in Northern France. The civilians were quite friendly. He had a whirlwind romance with her. Later, the entire family came to live in Hackensack, NJ. Thomas remained in France when the war ended, and signed up for an additional sixth months of service, so he could be with her and continue the romantic adventure leading to marriage.

While Thomas and his brother were in Germany, they had a surprise visit for a few hours from their brother, Salvatore "Sam", who served as a radio operator in the 20th Corps.

The mother of the Puglisi brothers received a Special Recognition in 1942 for having all four of her sons serving at one time.

Thomas has a nephew, Frederick Puglisi, who served towards the end of the
Vietnam War in 1973-74 and was stationed in Okinawa.

Phillip, Thomas, Salvatore "Sam", and Vincent served in World War II.