Tom Stearns was the grandfather of Michael Stearns and a sergeant during World War II. He was among the American unit that liberated Buchenwald concentration camp and met Morris Roth's father, a Jewish prisoner. Tom was responsible for convincing the elder Roth to move to Grantville where he raised his family and his son. At some point in time, Tom passed away and interred at Grantville's cemetery where he was laid beside his son Jack. After the Ring of Fire, Morris Roth told Balthazar Abrabanel about his father and Tom.