SAN ANGELO, Texas — For 33 years, United States Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Thomas G. Nurre, Sr. traveled to places like Alaska, the Philippines and Pakistan during his active duty service.
Just recently, Iowa native Nurre was named Angelo State's 2023 Veteran of the Year.
"When ASU notified me, I was absolutely gob smacked at the news of my being selected for this award," he said. "Ever since first working to support the ASU ROTC detachment with Goodfellow NCO Academy instructors in the late 1980s, to the more recent opportunities to serve as a veteran outreach organization for the ASU grants and veteran-specific programs like Vietnam: Through the Lens, I have always admired and appreciated the university for its genuine interest in veteran affairs. This is an awesome and humbling experience to be singled out for recognition, especially on national Veterans Day."
During his career, Nurre flew a total of 141 radio direction finding (ARDF) missions in the Vietnam War and he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Legion of Merit for his efforts.
He also worked as Goodfellow Air Force Base NCO Academy commandant and Air Force NCO Professional Military Education director at the Pentagon.
In 1994, Nurre retired from his final assignment as head of the Chief's Group at San Antonio's Air Force Personnel Center. From there, he and his wife moved to San Angelo, where he created Lake View High School's Air Force Junior ROTC Unit 948.
In 1994-1995, the school won Best First-Year Unit. During his time at Lake View, Nurre also established a scholarship to help ASU ROTC Detachment 847 while memorializing his friend and World War II veteran Rocky F. Durso.
Nurre has worked with ASU's Honors Program, West Texas Collection, Alumni Association, Communications and Marketing as well as Arnoldo De Leon Department of History while working with the university on various projects.
In the San Angelo community, Nurre was once the head of Keep San Angelo Beautiful and he currently works as a writer for ec47 website, telling the story of past and present Goodfellow Air Force Base members.
Read more here.
