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| Thomas
A. Austin III |
| NO.
17709 • 6 Oct 1927 - 25 Jun 2001
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Died
in Arlington, VA
Interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
|
THOMAS ADAM AUSTIN III was born at reveille at Ft. Benning, GA,
to COL Thomas A. Austin, Jr., and Hazel Hannah Austin. Growing up
an 'Army brat', Tom had the Army in his blood from his early youth.
In 1943, he attended the Florida Military Academy to complete the
requirements for high school graduation. In 1944, he enrolled at
Georgia Tech, and, in 1946, he was appointed to the U.S. Military
Academy. In June 1950, shortly after graduating from West Point,
he married Elizabeth Louise "Betty Lou" Alexander, his
sweetheart for 42 years. He then began a 30 year career that took
him all over the world, including Iceland, Spain, Viet Nam, and
Panama (twice).
Following his graduation from Command and General Staff College
in 1962, Tom became an enthusiastic linguist. He studied Spanish
at the University of Madrid and, in 1963, returned to USMA as an
instructor/ assistant professor in the Foreign Language Department.
In 1966, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College and subsequently
was sent to Ft. Bliss, TX, to study Vietnamese. Afterwards, from
1967 to 1968, he served as a Senior Province Advisor, III Corps,
in the Republic of Viet Nam. In 1968, he commanded a battalion at
Ft. Benning, GA, and in 1969 he was sent to the Pentagon for two
wonderful years in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.
After completing the Army War College, Tom returned to Panama as
the military group commander to the Ambassador of Panama. He was
acquainted with Jimmy Lakas, the President of Panama, and General
Omar Torrijos, the dictator. He also worked with key American officials.
Ambassador Robert M. Sayre, Governor David S. Parker, and GEN William
Rosson, Southern Command, relied on Tom’s intimate knowledge
of the Guardia Nacional. Tom was the right person at a critical
time in Panamanian/U.S. History; he spotted a devious lieutenant
colonel in the Guardia and warned U.S. officials to keep a close
eye on him. That person, the infamous and notorious General Manuel
Noriega, was deposed during Operation Just Cause in 1989.
In 1975, Tom returned to the Pentagon to work in the joint arena
and the National Military Command Center. In 1978, he was assigned
to Ft. Dix, NJ, as the post chief of staff and deputy post commander,
an assignment he loved because it placed him with soldiers one last
time.
In 1964, Tom received a master's degree from Middlebury College,
and in 1972 he earned a second master's degree, this one in public
administration, from Shippensburg University. His military awards
included the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious
Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnamese Cross
for Gallantry, National Defense Service Medal with star, and the
Parachutist and Combat Infantryman Badge.
Tom often boasted that he was an atypical Infantry officer because
he never drank coffee, played golf, or fired a shot in anger. However,
he was fiercely competitive and loved squash, handball, and racquetball.
Intimidation was his ally, and he sometimes used his 6'1,"
228-pound body to block his opponent’s vision on the court.
Everyone who knew Tom remembers his ever present 3"x 5"
cards, on which he noted birthdays and special occasions, appointments,
medications, and prayer requests. His priorities were God, country,
and family.
In 1980, Tom retired as a colonel, and he and Betty Lou returned
to their home in Alexandria, VA. Following open heart surgery in
1981, Tom began 20 years of volunteerism. He belonged to and met
regularly with three men's prayer groups and was active in the National
Prayer Breakfast, where his mastery of Portuguese and Spanish made
him a valuable asset. He also served as a board member of the Ft.
Belvoir Officer's Club. Tom visited the Oak Meadow Nursing Home
weekly to chat with and read to the elderly shut ins. These visits,
often with one of his grandchildren, brightened the day for everyone,
and he continued them for nearly 20 years, bringing hope to many.
Tom's loyalty extended to his West Point classmates. He was program
chairman for the monthly class luncheons in DC and the class scribe
for several years. In retirement, he and Betty Lou also often visited
their four children and 16 grandchildren at their various assignments
around the globe.
After a valiant battle with cancer, Betty Lou died on 4 Apr 1992.
In October 1994, Tom married Macon Fooshe, widow of classmate Jim
Fooshe, and they were married until his death in June 2001. Tom
cherished Macon and her children and learned a great deal about
society and life in "Ole Virginia." Jim and Tom had been
roommates at West Point, and Tom had served as a pallbearer at Jim’s
funeral in 1976. He became the stepfather to Jim’s children,
sharing with them his love for the Lord and his love of sports.
Tom brought joy to those who knew him and inspired loyalty in them.
He added a sweet melody in this world. Wherever Tom worshiped, he
sang in the choir. For years, he sang in the choir at the Post Chapel
at Ft. Belvoir and then at Cherrydale Methodist Church in Arlington.
In addition to his wife Macon, Tom is survived by his four children:
LTC (ret.) Thomas A Austin IV, ‘'75; Elizabeth S. Austin,
R.N.; Nell Horn, wife of COL Carl Horn ‘'76; and LTC (Ret.)
David Austin; and sixteen grandchildren. He is also survived by
two stepchildren, Carter Fooshe Weeber and James Cabell Fooshe,
and three step grandchildren. Additionally, he is survived by a
brother, COL (Ret.) William H. Austin, USAR, and a sister, Hazel
"Honey" Baker. The first chapter of Philippians says,
"being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun
a good work in me will complete it until the day of Christ,"
and Tom's life exemplified those words. Well done, Tom, thou good
and faithful servant! Death has been swallowed up in victory!
- His son
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USMA 1950