View a eulogy for Thomas Matthew Rienzi, USMA '42, who passed away on December 15, 2010.
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Thomas Matthew Rienzi
West Point, 1942
Be Thou At Peace
Posted by Karl F. Ivey on December 18, 2010:
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I served at SHAPE in Belgium when LTG Rienzi was in Brussels as CG, NATO Signal Command. I was very heavily involved with the Boy Scouts in the BENELUX and he spent much effort supporting us. He even came to my economy home way out in the countryside for a dinner one evening and displayed the drink in a pocket routine that he was famous for having (getting two drinks in tall glass and putting one in his shirt pocket for later use). He laughed when our 18 month old son threw up on him and loved the boy like it was his own grandchild. My wife and I were just mortified but he made us think it was his fault. I am so fortunate to have spent many hours with him as he always wanted to see the American Scouts when they were interacting with the Brit scout and Belgian scout units at our campouts. He seemed to never tire of standing in the cold rain around a smokey campfire. He was definitely "a muddy boots General". I wonder if we make General Officers today like Tom Rienzi. I certainly hope, for the future of our Army and our Nation, that we still do !! Karl Ivey F-2, USMA 1969 |
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