Tom chose not to return.

Information relating to Thomas Turk's birth, family and formative years is not available. Also missing are records or narratives regarding his residency in Santa Cruz County.

Turk was recruited as a private in Company K of the 5th California Infantry in Watsonville, California, on October 21, 1861. He enlisted during a later enlistment and accompanied other enlistees overland to San Francisco Bay. After their arrival at an unidentified port, the recruits were taken by boat to Camp Union in Sacramento. After performing flood relief support in that area, they were provided with a basic introduction to military life.

During 1861-62 Turk performed guard duty with Company K on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. In March 1863 the company was ordered to Camp Drum near Los Angeles where they joined the California Column. After leaving Camp Drum, they traveled to Yuma, Tucson, and later to Fort Bowie, Arizona. Turk most likely participated in the Gila River Expedition and other campaigns against hostile Apache Indians during this period of his enlistment. On November 27, 1864 he was discharged at the expiration of his enlistment at Las Cruces, New Mexico.

According to Santa Cruz historian Tom McHugh, Thomas Turk died in Franklin, Texas of an undisclosed cause on February 10, 1865. The location of Turk's remains is not known.

(CMWR, Pg. 719; SCSn November 12, 1972)