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Tom Healy began his
Army career as an Armor Officer. After a distinguished career spanning 32 years,
he achieved the rank of lieutenant general. He died on 9 Dec 2004 of an
aggressive cancer believed to have been initiated by chemical agents to which he
was exposed during his two tours in Viet Nam.
Thomas Francis
Healy, Jr. was born in Cambridge, MA, in September 1931, the only child of
Thomas and Helen Healy, and grew up in Holyoke, MA, where he enjoyed sports,
especially baseball and softball. He graduated from Holyoke High School in 1949
and, years later, was inducted into their Hall of Fame. After one year at the
University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Tom joined the Class of 1954 at West
Point. Tom found academics to his liking, especially German. One day he
excitedly told a roommate that he had a dream, but this time it was in German,
demonstrating that he truly understood the language.
The fondest
remembrance all have of Tom is that he had no enemies. He was loved by all for
his friendly, supportive spirit. In his Yearling year, Tom aspired to be the
company guidon bearer, and two years later he was. Once Tom decided on a goal or
course of action in life, he almost always achieved it. This was likely one of
the ingredients that led to his success in the military, but the very best
example of this characteristic is illustrated by his choice of his “life
partner.”
Cow year, Tom enjoyed
a football weekend “dragging” Gloria Fields, the younger sister of classmate Sam
Fields. After dinner, Tom announced to his roommate and best friend, “I am going
to marry this woman.” One week after graduation, Tom and Gloria were married in
her hometown of Alexandria, VA.
Tom and Gloria had
two children, Lori and Mark. Tom’s early term of endearment for his wife was
Dordie. Tom and Dordie had four grandchildren; a boy and a girl by each of their
two children: Conner and Alexandra from Lori and her husband “CC,” while Sam and
Elizabeth are from Mark and his wife Virginia. Tom earned a master’s degree from
Columbia and a “Diplom” from the University of Heidelberg, Germany. He also
completed the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. Some
years later, he became the Commandant of the Army War College. In addition, Tom
had two tours of duty at West Point, teaching German on his first tour and later
serving as Tactical Officer of the 3rd Cadet Regiment.
Tom’s early duties
and assignments were typical for junior officers after graduation, including two
tours at the Pentagon, during which Tom was exposed to Virginia. Years later, he
and Dordie would retire in Fredericksburg, VA.
Tom’s tours in Viet
Nam were first as the operations officer for the Army of the Republic of Viet
Nam High Command, working with translators, and later as executive officer of
the 3rd Battalion, 4th Cavalry. During his second tour, Tom commanded the 5th
Helicopter Battalion, 7th Air Cavalry, and was later a member of the Military
Assistance Command, Viet Nam staff. Assignments in Europe included staff
positions at Allied Forces Central Europe and at NATO Headquarters in Belgium.
Tom’s commands included the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division; assistant
division commander; and, later, commanding general. His distinguished career
culminated as Chief of Staff, Allied Forces Southern Europe, Naples, Italy.
At times, when a
person achieves a good deal of success, it sometimes appears that “good fortune
smiled on them,” but a more detailed look reveals a more difficult struggle. One
Sunday afternoon, near the end of Tom’s tour in Heidelberg, their car was struck
by another on an Autobahn exit ramp. The driver of the other car apparently had
consumed a considerable amount of alcohol and paid with his life while
inflicting major injuries on Tom and Dordie. Tom had major injuries to his legs
while Dordie had major chest injuries and great difficulty breathing. Their son
Mark was in southern Germany, while their daughter Lori was at the University of
Tennessee, about to graduate.
For several days,
neither Tom nor Dordie knew how serious their injuries were. Lori was sent a
message saying one person died in the accident, but it didn’t say who. Since the
message made no mention of Mark, Lori feared her brother was killed. Also, she
soon learned that her mother and father were in different hospitals.
Due to Dordie’s major
chest injuries, she could not speak. After several days, Tom tried to call
Dordie, but she could not speak. Finally, Tom would ask Dordie questions, and
she would answer by “taps” on the phone: one tap for yes; two taps for no; three
for I don’t know; and a long string of taps meaning “I love and miss you.”
Neither Tom nor Dordie were able to attend the graduation of daughter Lori from
college.
Dordie eventually lost two lobes of her lungs due
to trauma. Tom’s leg damage was deemed severe enough that he was slated for a
medical discharge. At the last moment, Tom convinced the Board that he was
capable of carrying out his military duties, and he was assigned to the 1st
Armored Division. It was the most successful period in his formidable career.
Tom’s decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army
Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, three Legions of Merit, two Bronze
Stars, and nineteen Air Medals. A classmate asked Tom what personal
characteristics were most important to the military success he achieved. Tom
responded, “Loyalty. Loyalty that I always held for my superiors and the loyalty
I expected from my subordinates.” LTG Healy died on 9 Dec 2004 and was interred
at Arlington National Cemetery on 21 Jan 2005, following Mass at the Chapel. On
his tombstone, Dordie and her family decided to include an excerpt from a letter
written to her by a dear friend, Sue Harvey, wife of Tom’s roommate of four
years, and his Best Man : “Tom was Great of Heart.”
—Robert J. Harvey ’54, classmate & roommate;
also special thanks to James D. Chandler ’54
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