Tom Lange – Vietnam War Hero
Tom investigated the Wonderland case in 1981. We did not hear from him much until O.J. in 1994, when the Nicole Brown/Ronald Goldman murders hit the news. That’s Tom talking to the Juice on the phone during the low-speed chase.
An excerpt from “Evidence Dismissed – The Inside Story of the Police Investigation of O.J. Simpson” by Dan E. Moldea:
Neither Lange nor Vannatter had originally given much thought to becoming police officers. Born in Milwaukee on April 14, 1945 and raised in Coral Gables, Florida, Frederick Douglas Lange–who had been nicknamed “Tom” by his two older sisters–moved to Los Angeles County with his mother after the death by heart attack of her estranged husband, Lange’s father, in 1960. As a young teenager, Lange was a runaway in the San Fernando Valley and was detained twice by police for minor infractions. However, Lange straightened out, somewhat, while attending a strict Catholic school. A long-distance runner on his high school’s cross-country and track-and-field teams, Lange remained rebellious and had no interest in college after graduation. Unlike many children of the 1960s, Lange expressed his rebellion by joining the U.S. Marines and going to Vietnam in June 1965. After a distinguished tour of duty with intensive combat experience, Sergeant Lange left the Marines in October 1966, refusing to re-enlist even after being offered Officers Candidate School.
After returning home from the war, Lange drifted for nearly a year, unable to land a decent job. He traveled around the country, visiting the families of war buddies who hadn’t come home. Eventually, he wound up back in Los Angeles, putting up tents for large events and getting paid ten-to-twenty bucks a day. Then, he went to work for Clairol beauty supplies, putting little boxes into big boxes. He slept on his mother’s sofa and spent most of his time hanging out with other vets.
Finally, while pumping gas in North Hollywood for Standard Oil, Lange became acquainted with a LAPD cop who gassed up at his service station. The officer encouraged Lange to take the tests for the LAPD. Lange did and passed with high marks.
He graduated from the LAPD Academy in January 1968. After a variety of assignments, he became an investigator at Central Juvenile and Central Detectives, earning his associate degree in Administration of Justice from Los Angeles Valley College in 1976. While working on the infamous Skid-Row Stabber Murders case, he became a member of the Robbery/Homicide Division in November 1978, working, at first, on loan from the Central Division. He eventually solved the murders after identifying a mere palm print left by the killer at one of the crime scenes. The following year, in October 1979–the same month as his marriage to his wife, Linda–Lange was permanently assigned to RHD, where he met Phil Vannatter.
criticextraordinaire 7:33 pm on October 7, 2013 Permalink |
Makes you wonder if he ever crossed paths with Ron Launius when he was in ‘Nam.
Back at the old Lions Gate board, a ‘Nam war buddy of Ronnie’s posted that for some reason he was sent out on a patrol (inconsistent with his role in logistics command, but maybe he wanted to see some action) and that he volunteered to take point. Something about he saw this purple beam of light coming from his head that let him see where Charlie was. Was probably a BS post but who knows. It would be consistent with his reputation for take-no-crap, fearless persona under pressure.
John 4:18 pm on October 8, 2013 Permalink |
Criticz,
What is that Nam board link? And feel free to copy and paste quotes and comments in the message section. It enhances the article etc and captures history. Thanks for visiting and collaborating, your input is highly valued, like everyone else.
criticextraordinaire 5:48 pm on October 8, 2013 Permalink
That was the old “Lions Gate” board that existed for the Wonderland film. By the end of 2004, I believe, it was taken down by the film company as things were getting wild over there. Dawn was posting and I think Laurie was too. Most of the Lionsgate gang then moved over to the IMDb board when the Lionsgate board got 86’d. But most of those board regs, with handles like “BoogieKnight”, “WILDHEART”, “Americandiablo” and “kdimmick” are rarely seen over there. (WILDHEART, always in caps, went out and got a set of custom “WADD” license plates for her car). Sean “Duke” Amerson even posted there once or twice, and Julia St Vincent posted even several times.
Jill Nelson and Jennifer Sugar, as I recall, got the Wonderland bug at that board and the rest is history, with their awesome biography of the King, I think the only one that can be said to be truly impartial and agenda-free.
I didn’t know this site had a message section. :-O
Bobby 11:27 pm on October 7, 2013 Permalink |
It seems that identifying killer’s palm prints at crime scenes was his signature move! 😉
Jill C. Nelson 8:52 pm on October 8, 2013 Permalink |
Thanks for the nice words, Critic. You and some of the others you mentioned from the IMDb board were inspiring, not to mention amazingly knowledgable. It was never dull over there, that’s for sure. 🙂 It was a great group. To this day, I feel I happened at the right place at the right time. I’ve heard some crazy stories about the old Lion’s Gate board. Wow… time sure flies.
John 2:40 pm on October 9, 2013 Permalink |
I bet that Lion’s Gate discussion forum was really hopping back then, especially so close to the release of the movie. Can anyone find the archive for the old board. It’s a shame that all of those discussion threads and topics are lost to history. They must be found!! Maybe Way Back Time Machine or a site like that can help find the cached archives.
I’m surprised that Eddie did not put out a book, or Sharon for that matter…or Ron’s underling Cherokee for that matter. These days, everyone, even the neighbors could have their own book deal re: Wonderland!
criticextraordinaire 6:35 pm on October 9, 2013 Permalink
John, I think the death knell of that Lionsgate board was when this one dude was harassing another poster, using his work computer from some paper company to do it. If I recall correctly he got himself fired over it and shortly thereafter the board was gone.
There was also a gal on that board who was an artist in Canada (what is it with Canadian women and John Holmes, they seem to be attracted to him) who had painted an awesome series of portraits of John as well as other pioneers in the porno industry. 😎
John W 3:52 pm on October 10, 2013 Permalink |
If Tom Lange had the conscience and courtesy to visit his war buddies families after the war, then that just lends to his dedication and commitment to families in solving the murders of their loved ones. Long live Tom Lange!
localarts 4:22 pm on October 10, 2013 Permalink |
I wonder if Lange had any respect for Holmes as a man.
Ed Mills 11:10 am on February 9, 2015 Permalink |
Thanks for the background on detective Lange. Hoping to find his book soon and try and contact him for some personal remarks on the Wonderland murders.