I played a lot of golf with Tom at Navy-Marine Golf Course when I was homeported in Pearl Horbor 1980-1983.
What a fine gentleman.
The one thing that I will always remember was his enthusiasm when I told him that I had applied for a commission (I was a Navy CPO at the time), and later his exhilaration when I told him I had been selected.
Later, when my ship went to Hawaii from Japan for missile training, I was fortunate enough to play a round of golf with Tom and to go to the Hickam O Club with him and his wife for Mongolian night.
He was a true gentleman who loved his family and his friends.
I will always cherish the time I enjoyed with him on the links.
Rest easy, Tom, we have the watch.

I met Tom about 8 yrs ago at Keoki’s restaurant on Kaua’i. I was sitting alone and he just sat himself down and started talking.  I was delighted meet him and learn of his remarkable aviation background, which included flying the P-51 Mustang over Europe in WW2 and then pretty much every airplane the Air Force had until he retired in 1976. We went back to his house after that and he regaled me with stories until the wee hours of the morning.  I contacted Tom every time I returned to Kaua’i (often), and we’d go out to dinner or cook steaks on his lanai.  A retired military officer myself, every moment with Tom was special and I just knew I had to maximize my “face time” with him any way I could.  I’m going to miss you greatly, my friend, but delight in knowing you lived a full and wonderful life that the rest of us can only dream of.  Bless you, and Aloha ‘Oe…

Borthwick Kauai Mortuary

Thomas Batey

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Thomas Batey

March 31, 1924 – August 10, 2020

Borthwick Kauaʻi Mortuary

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