Thomas F. Healy

Thomas Francis Healy was a U.S. Army general and former commandant of the Army War College.

Early life

Healy was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on September 18, 1931. He graduated from Holyoke High School in Massachusetts in 1950. He later went on to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating with his officers commission in 1954. He also received graduate degrees from Columbia University and the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He also attended the Armed Forces Staff College, Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

Military career

His duties of assignment within the Army included overseeing the Advanced Armor School, tours at West Point as professor of German and later as Executive Tactical Officer of the 3rd Cadet Regiment. Also, he accumulated two Vietnam tours, including one as an operations officer for the Army of the Republic of Vietnam's High Command. In this assignment, he worked with translators and executive officers of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Regiment of the 1st Air Cavalry Division. During his second tour, he commanded the 5th Battalion of the 7th Regiment of the 1st Air Cavalry Division. While in Vietnam, Healy served with the now-famous Norman Schwarzkopf. Healy also served as a superior officer to then-subordinate Tommy Franks as well.

Later, he became a member of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam staff. He served on the Department of the Army staff in Washington, in the department of Personnel and Operations. He also served in staff positions with Allied Forces Central Europe and at the international NATO Headquarters in Belgium.

His other command duties included being attached to the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Armored Division, serving as the Assistant Division Commander and eventually Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division. He later became the Commanding General and Commandant of the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. His distinguished career's final assignment was as the Chief of Staff of the Allied Forces: Southern Europe in Naples, Italy. Healy retired at the rank of Lieutenant General.

Awards and decorations

Awards and decorations awarded to General Healy included the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, the Legion of Merit (awarded to him three times), the Bronze Star (awarded twice) and the Air Medal, awarded nineteen times overall, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Honor Medal, and other various service medals. Other awards presented to him include the parachutist badge,and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Death

On December 9, 2004, Healy died after complications from cancer. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.